Birth of Robert Guiscard
Birth of Robert Guiscard, the sixth son of Tancred of Hauteville and eldest by his second wife Fressenda
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Robert Guiscard Biography and Timeline
Follow Robert Guiscard through 36 dated historical records for France.
Robert Guiscard, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
36Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1015–1085Years on this page
1015
1059
Peerage
At the Council of Melfi Pope Nicholas II invested Guiscard as Duke of Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily
Council of Melfi
At the Council of Melfi Pope Nicholas II invested Guiscard as Duke of Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily
Invasion of Sicily
Authorized by Pope Nicholas II to capture Siciliy
Rule of Apulia
Invested by Pope Nicholas II with the Duchy of Apulia
Rule of Calabria
Invested by Pope Nicholas II with the Duchy of Calabria
Rule of Sicily
Invested by Pope Nicholas II with the future Duchy of Siciliy
1060
Capture of Cariati
Guiscard returned to Calabria, where his army was besieging Cariati. After his arrival, Cariati submitted and, before winter was out, Rossano and Gerace followed
Capture of Gerace
Guiscard returned to Calabria, where his army was besieging Cariati. After his arrival, Cariati submitted and, before winter was out, Rossano and Gerace followed
Capture of Rossano
Guiscard returned to Calabria, where his army was besieging Cariati. After his arrival, Cariati submitted and, before winter was out, Rossano and Gerace followed
Invasion of Sicily
The dHautvilles cross the Straits of Messina & to capture Sicily from the Saracens
1061
Capture of Messina
Guiscard invaded Sicily with his brother Roger, capturing Messina in 1061 with comparable ease, they landed unsighted during the night and surprised the Saracen army
Invasion of Sicily
Guiscard invaded Sicily with his brother Roger, capturing Messina in 1061 with comparable ease, they landed unsighted during the night and surprised the Saracen army. Paterno fell, and Guiscard brought his army to Enna (then Castrogiovanni), a formidable fortress. The Saracens sallied forth and were defeated, but Enna itself did not fall. Guiscard turned back, leaving a fortress at San Marco d'Alunzio, named after his first stronghold in Calabria
Siege of Enna
Guiscard invaded Sicily with his brother Roger, capturing Messina in 1061 with comparable ease, they landed unsighted during the night and surprised the Saracen army. Paterno fell, and Guiscard brought his army to Enna (then Castrogiovanni), a formidable fortress. The Saracens sallied forth and were defeated, but Enna itself did not fall. Guiscard turned back, leaving a fortress at San Marco d'Alunzio, named after his first stronghold in Calabria
1064
Invasion of Sicily
Returns in 1064, but bypassed Enna making straight for Palermo. His campsite was infested with tarantulas, however, and had to be abandoned. The campaign was unsuccessful
Siege of Palermo
Returns in 1064, but bypassed Enna making straight for Palermo. His campsite was infested with tarantulas, however, and had to be abandoned. The campaign was unsuccessful
1071
Capture of Bari
Bari was reduced in April 1071, and Byzantine forces were finally ousted from southern Italy
Capture of Bari
Captures Bari & eliminates the last Byzantine foothold in Italy
1072
Black Shirt Robert
Palermo falls, and for the rest of Sicily it was only then a matter of time. As a result of his Sicilian campaign, Guiscard was referred to as "Black Shirt Robert" because throughout the campaign he wore elegant clothing with imported dyes that ran together resulting in black clothing
Capture of Palermo
Palermo falls, and for the rest of Sicily it was only then a matter of time. As a result of his Sicilian campaign, Guiscard was referred to as "Black Shirt Robert" because throughout the campaign he wore elegant clothing with imported dyes that ran together resulting in black clothing
Invasion of Sicily
Palermo falls, and for the rest of Sicily it was only then a matter of time. As a result of his Sicilian campaign, Guiscard was referred to as "Black Shirt Robert" because throughout the campaign he wore elegant clothing with imported dyes that ran together resulting in black clothing
Siege of Palermo
Palermo falls, and for the rest of Sicily it was only then a matter of time. As a result of his Sicilian campaign, Guiscard was referred to as "Black Shirt Robert" because throughout the campaign he wore elegant clothing with imported dyes that ran together resulting in black clothing
1076
Siege of Salerno
Guiscard expels the Lombard Prince Gisulf, whose sister Sichelgaita he had married
1081
Battle of Durazzo
Bohemund Bohemund & Robert Guiscard defeat Emperor Alexius. The Battle of Dyrrhachium (Durres in Albania) between the Byzantine Empire, led by the Emperor Alexius I Comnenus and the Normans of southern Italy under Robert Guiscard, Duke of Apulia and Calabria. Fought outside the city of Dyrrhachium (also known as Durazzo), Byzantine capital of Illyria, results in a Norman victory
Invasion of Corfu
Launches an invasion fleet to capture Corfu
Siege of Corfu
Alexius I Comnenus leads 50,000 & lifts the siege of Corfu led by Robert Guiscard
Siege of Durazzo
Guiscard Occupies Corfu and Durazzo, defeating the Emperor Alexius during his attack on the Greek Empire
Siege of Durazzo
Robert Guiscard raises the siege but it is sucessfully defended by George Palaeologus
1082
Capture of Durazzo
The Normans took Dyrrhachium in February 1082 and advanced inland, capturing most of Macedonia and Thessaly
Capture of Macedonia
The Normans took Dyrrhachium in February 1082 and advanced inland, capturing most of Macedonia and Thessaly
Capture of Thessaly
The Normans took Dyrrhachium in February 1082 and advanced inland, capturing most of Macedonia and Thessaly
Siege of Corfu
Guiscard Occupies Corfu and Durazzo, defeating the Emperor Alexius during his attack on the Greek Empire
1084
Arrest of Gregory VII
Gregory VII is liberated from the Holy City by Robert Guiscard & taken to Salerno
1085
Death of Robert Guiscard
Death of Robert Guiscard
Siege of Corfu
Guiscard occupies Corfu and Kephalonia
Siege of Kephalonia
Guiscard occupies Corfu and Kephalonia
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.