DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63447#0209
THE NORMAN CONQUESTS.
193
few, yet as they spoke and acted like one man, and in
union with the Church, the natives, overwhelming in
mere point of population, but divided by jealousies (and
whose only ideas of rebellion consisted in isolated assassi-
nations), had not a chance against them. Northern and
Central Italy, again, irritated at the exactions of some of
the Imperial officers, willingly lent an ear to the overtures
of Cardinal Hildebrand, preferring their alliance with
their own Pontiff, an Italian, to the suzerainty of a
stranger.
The Treaty of Melfi opened to Robert Guiscard intoxi-
cating prospects of conquest and plunder, and perhaps it
was to his zeal as a leader that these dreams were not too
promptly realised; for the Greeks, though they could not
meet the heavily-armed Normans in the field, held out
valiantly in their fortresses and cities. The siege of Bari
alone cost the invaders four consecutive years of patient
and persevering assault. Finally, however, they triumphed ;
and thus the entire provinces of Apulia and Calabria,
and the whole of Sicily, ended by being subject to the
Normans.
The policy of the latter was soon shown in the liberty
of conscience they tolerated. Greeks, Jews, and Mussul-
mans were permitted to worship according to their faith ;
and the latter were paid as “allies” by the Normans,
and taken into regular service as troops ; the soldierly
conquerors being the first to appreciate the military
capacities of the Saracens, subordinate to themselves.
In the year 1075 they took Salerno (the first landing-
place of their nation), and in 1077 they seized Benevento;
thus erasing the last trace of the dominion of the Longo-
bards, which had lasted from the invasion of Alboin, five
hundred and seven years.
In the year 1068 another great triumph had been
won by the Normans William, the illegitimate son of
Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, had invaded
and conquered England; thus, in two very different
regions, men of comparatively humble birth, but endowed
with all the characteristics of a dominant race, had
o
193
few, yet as they spoke and acted like one man, and in
union with the Church, the natives, overwhelming in
mere point of population, but divided by jealousies (and
whose only ideas of rebellion consisted in isolated assassi-
nations), had not a chance against them. Northern and
Central Italy, again, irritated at the exactions of some of
the Imperial officers, willingly lent an ear to the overtures
of Cardinal Hildebrand, preferring their alliance with
their own Pontiff, an Italian, to the suzerainty of a
stranger.
The Treaty of Melfi opened to Robert Guiscard intoxi-
cating prospects of conquest and plunder, and perhaps it
was to his zeal as a leader that these dreams were not too
promptly realised; for the Greeks, though they could not
meet the heavily-armed Normans in the field, held out
valiantly in their fortresses and cities. The siege of Bari
alone cost the invaders four consecutive years of patient
and persevering assault. Finally, however, they triumphed ;
and thus the entire provinces of Apulia and Calabria,
and the whole of Sicily, ended by being subject to the
Normans.
The policy of the latter was soon shown in the liberty
of conscience they tolerated. Greeks, Jews, and Mussul-
mans were permitted to worship according to their faith ;
and the latter were paid as “allies” by the Normans,
and taken into regular service as troops ; the soldierly
conquerors being the first to appreciate the military
capacities of the Saracens, subordinate to themselves.
In the year 1075 they took Salerno (the first landing-
place of their nation), and in 1077 they seized Benevento;
thus erasing the last trace of the dominion of the Longo-
bards, which had lasted from the invasion of Alboin, five
hundred and seven years.
In the year 1068 another great triumph had been
won by the Normans William, the illegitimate son of
Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, had invaded
and conquered England; thus, in two very different
regions, men of comparatively humble birth, but endowed
with all the characteristics of a dominant race, had
o