Everything about Siege Of Capua totally explained
The
Siege of Capua was a military operation involving the states of medieval
southern Italy, beginning in May
1098 and lasting forty days. It was an interesting siege historically for the assemblage of great persons it saw and militarily for the cooperation of
Norman and
Saracen forces which it necessitated.
The siege was instigated by
Richard II,
prince of Capua, who had been exiled from his own capital for seven years (
1091-1098) by
Lando IV until, reaching his majority, he requested the aid of his great uncle, the
count of Sicily,
Roger I, and his first cousin once removed, the
duke of Apulia,
Roger Borsa. The two Rogers came, the former in exchange for the city of
Naples and the latter for Richard's recognition of Apulian suzerainty.
Roger of Sicily had lately arrested Robert, bishop of
Troina and
Messina, whom
Pope Urban II had given the
legateship of Sicily, though Roger himself was holding it. Embroiled in such controversy, the pope came down to discuss it with Roger, who released Robert. The pope's presence caused the saintly
archbishop of Canterbury, a
Lombard,
Anselm of Aosta, then in self-exile from King
William II of England, to go to meet the pope. According to
Eadmer, Anselm's biographer, "the Lord Pope and Anselm were neighbours at the siege."
Eadmer also gives us an interesting portrait of the Arabs, whose brown tents Anselm found "innumerable." According to Eadmer, many Arabs, impressed by tales of Anselm's holiness, visited his tent for food and other gifts. The biographer goes on to say that the count, whose soldiers the Saracens were, wouldn't allow them, though many would readily have done so, to convert to the
Roman Catholic faith. "With what policy—if one can use that word—he did this, is no concern of mine: that's between God and himself." The policy, so inconceivable to Eadmer, is probably explained thusly: by maintaining a third religious and cultural party (other than
Latin or
Greek Christian) on the island, he assured that he could always have an ally, should either
Muslim or Greek oppose him, a Latin. It also assured the presence of an "outlet for the military intsincts and talents of his Muslim subjects," according to historian
John Julius Norwich.
When the city surrendered, Richard was reinstated, Roger Borsa accepted his homage, and the pope and Roger of Sicily retired to
Salerno.
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