1060
Invasion of Sicily
The dHautvilles cross the Straits of Messina & to capture Sicily from the Saracens
Historical place archive
Browse historical events and people recorded at Sicily in France. The records below are rendered directly from the World History Database into this page's initial HTML.
The dHautvilles cross the Straits of Messina & to capture Sicily from the Saracens
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
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
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
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
Louis brother marriies Beatrice of Provence making Louis King of Sicily & Jerusalem
Succeeds as King of Sicily as Charles I, 1265-1285
Harsh rule leads to an uprising, the Sicilian Vespers
Harsh rule leads to an uprising, the Sicilian Vespers
Driven out of Sicily by the Spanish
Fails to capture Sicily
Provenance
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