Roger of Salerno

Timeline

1. c. 1105–1116Antioch · Principality of AntiochRoger came of Lombard nobility and later entered the service of the Principality of Antioch. During Tancred's regency he served as an important military commander, taking part in attacks on Muslim strongholds and frontier defense; his bravery earned him a place in the army's ranks, and he gradually became one of the principality's core commanders.
2. 1116–1119Ager Sanguinis · Northern SyriaAfter Tancred's death in 1112, Roger became regent of Antioch, effectively directing the principality's military and civil affairs. Between 1111 and 1118 he coordinated joint forces with the counties of Jerusalem and Tripoli against Seljuk and local emir pressures. On June 28, 1119, at the Battle of Ager Sanguinis (Field of Blood), he led his troops against Ilghazi and was defeated and killed, with Antioch's elite forces suffering heavy losses.