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Richard I, Prince of Capua

Type Figure Region Capua Time c. 1025–1078 Also known as Richard I of Capua、Richard of Aversa、Riccardo I di Capua、理查德·德·奥特维尔

Richard I, Prince of Capua (c. 1025–1078), a Norman military noble and key figure in the Norman conquest of southern Italy;…

Timeline

  1. c. 1025–1053Aversa, Campania · CampaniaRichard was the nephew of Rainulf Drengot, founder of the County of Aversa, the earliest Norman-held territory in Italy. After Rainulf's death, Richard inherited the county around 1049, becoming an important Norman leader in Campania and gradually expanding his influence with outstanding military talent.
  2. 1053–1058Civitate, Apulia · ApuliaIn 1053 Richard joined Robert Guiscard to defeat the combined army personally led by Pope Leo IX at the Battle of Civitate, capturing the pope himself; this battle established Norman de facto control of southern Italy and greatly raised Richard's fame. He continued to expand his military presence in Campania.
  3. 1058–1071Capua, Campania · CampaniaIn 1058 Richard captured the historic city of Capua, proclaiming himself Prince of Capua and founding the Norman Principality of Capua, becoming one of the two great Norman powers in southern Italy alongside Robert Guiscard. His status was recognized by the pope at the Council of Melfi in 1059.
  4. 1071–1078Capua, Campania · CampaniaFrom 1071 to 1078 Richard continued to expand outward, besieging the Duchy of Naples for a long period and forcing the Duke of Naples to submit. In his later reign he clashed with Pope Gregory VII over questions of ecclesiastical power. He died at Capua on April 5, 1078, succeeded by his son Jordan I.

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