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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:10:44 GMT -5
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:11:03 GMT -5
FEUDAL LOMBARDIA[/size] c. 930 Beneventine invasion of Apulia. Hoping to profit from the Fatimid assault on Byzantine Italy, Landulf I of Benevento-Capua enlists the assistance of Theobald of Spoleto and Guaimar II of Salerno. In a five-year-long campaign, they conquer many places in Calabria, Apulia and Lucania from the Byzantines. It comes to an end when Romanus Lecapenus succeeds in extracting Theobald from the league and recovers much of the lost territory. 931February, 931 Death of Pope Stephen VII. Marozia engineers the election of her own son (allegedly from a liasion with a previous Pope Sergius III), who ascends as Pope John XI.  , Pope John XI February, 931, Death of Ermengarda of Lucca, Marquise-Dowager of Ivrea, widow of Adalbert I of Ivrea & half-sister of Hugh of Provence, and head of the Tuscan house of Lucca. With her death, leadership of the house of Lucca falls into the hands of the incompetent Lambert of Tuscany. Hugonids + Theophylact In an astounding turnaround, Hugh of Provence (having recently lost his Burgundian wife, Alda) accepts the hand of his former enemy Marozia (widow of Alberic of Spoleto & Guido of Tuscany). Hugh is enticed by the prospect of an imperial coronation and lordship over Rome (plus, through her control of her son Pope John XI, support for more investitures of his relatives), while Marozia, having lost Guido, is in need of an ally to shore up her power. Alas, there is a snag: Hugh is marrying his half-brother's widow, which poses a problem in canon law. In an ugly propaganda campaign, Hugh of Provence proceeds to besmirch the name of his mother (Bertha of Lorraine), claiming that her marriage with Adalbert I of Tuscany had produced no children. In other words, that neither Guido of Tuscany, nor Lambert of Tuscany nor Ermengarda of Ivrea, were in fact, his siblings at all. Lambert of Tuscany, insulted by his half-brother Hugh of Provence's aspersions about their mother, challenges the Italian king to a duel. Lambert, apparently, came out victorious, but to no avail as Hugh has Lambert deposed, imprisoned and his eyes poked out (he will die the next year). Hugonids of Tuscany Hugh of Provence invests his own blood brother Boso of Arles-Vienne (another son of Theobald of Arles and Bertha of Lorraine) as Marquis Boso ('Arles') of Tuscany. 931, Hugh of Provence associates his son (from the Burgundian princess Alda) as co-king Lothair II of Lombardia. Ivrea + Provence Berengar of Ivrea (son of Adalbert I of Ivrea & half-brother of Marquis Anscar II of Ivrea), marries Willa of Provence, daughter of Boso of Provence-Tuscany. 931, Death of Archbishop Lambert of Milan, a partisan of the Luccan camp. Hugh of Provence has his relative and reliable friend, former Elduin of Liege-Verona, invested as Archbishop Elduin of Milan. 932931-32 Hugh's alliance with Marozia begins to pay off with appointments of his enormous stable of children & relations. Hugh of Provence invests a relative as Bishop Manasses II of Trent and entrusts him with the government of the March of Friuli and, later, the bishoprics of Verona and Mantua. Hugh's nephew Ratfred is made Abbot of Farfa . Theobald, a bastard son of Hugh of Provence, is made archdeacon of Milan, another bastard Gottfried is given the abbey of Nonantola and yet another bastard is made Bishop Boso of Piacenza. Death of Constantinople Patriarch St. Tryphon. Byzantine co-Emperor Romanus Lecapenus attempts to push through his eunuch son as Patriarch Theophylactus of Constantinople. Facing opposition from eastern bishops for the uncanonical manner of the election, Romanus dispatches an embassy to Rome, requesting that Pope John XI send a group of Papal legates to "observe" the process. Marozia agrees, but in reward demands the marriage of a son of Romanus Lecapenus to one of her daughters. March, 932 Italian King Hugh of Provence arrives in Rome for his nuptials with the Roman mistress Marozia and an imperial coronation. Leaving the bulk of his army outside the city, Hugh enters and the marriage goes through with great pomp at the Castel San' Angelo-- but the imperial coronation doesn't.  - Marriage of Hugh of Provence and Marozia Summer, 932 ROMAN REVOLUTION Marozia's son, Alberic of Rome (from her first marriage to Alberic I of Spoleto), wary of Lambert of Tuscany's fate and insulted by his new stepfather, Hugh of Provence, storms out and appeals to the people of Rome to rise up against the foreign king. A popular uprising ensues, the doors of the city are shut to Hugh's army and the crowd follows Alberic to seize the Lateran palace. Hugh of Provence and his little escort escapes from the city, but Marozia and her son Pope John XI fall into Alberic's hands.  - Rome Marozia will live out her days in captivity. The Pope John XI is forced to grant temporal power over the Roman state to Alberic, who is invested as "Princeps atque omnium Romanorum Senator" ("Prince and Senator of all Romans"). The Pope is to resign himself to spiritual leadership of the Church. The new prince Alberic of Rome's name will be adjoined to the Pope's on all documents and coins. Far from strengthening the power of the old Roman nobility over the clerical bureaucracy, Alberic in fact revives the judicial assembly of ecclesiastical and laical lords and promotes the growth of the scholae militum, in order to train a Roman civic army. Fall, 932 Arrival in Rome of an embassy from the Byzantine co-Emperor Romanus Lecapenus, to pick up the Papal legates and a daughter of Marozia for marriage to one of his sons. They are met by Alberic, who agrees to send legates, but demands instead the hand of a Byzantine princess for himself and an alliance with the Eastern Empire. 932 Doge Orso Participazio II retires voluntarily to a monastery. End of the Participazio dominance of the Venetian dogeship. He is succeeded by Doge Pietro Candiano II, son and namesake of the earlier (& brief) associate doge. Beginning of the Candiani dominance of the Venetian dogeship.  - Pietro Candiano II, Doge of Venice This same year, Capodistria (Koper, on the Istrian peninsula) enters into a vassalage agreement with Venice. In return for Venetian protection, Capodistria is to supply a hundred amphoras of wine to the Venetian Doge, yearly until his death, offer protection to Venetians in her city and promises to expeditiously resolve problems of debts with Venetian citizens. Venetian-Istrian War As the agreement between Venice and Capodistria was made without imperial authorization, the self-proclaimed "Marquis" Wintkar (Wintherius) of Istria forbids Istrians from repaying any debts owed to Venetians, starts seizing Venetian-owned property and attacking her ships. In response, Venice sets up an economic blockade of Istrian cities. 
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:11:25 GMT -5
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:11:41 GMT -5
FEUDAL LOMBARDIA[/size] 933Truce between Germany and the Magyars expires when Henry I refuses to continue paying tribute. With a newly-trained, horseback-borne army, King Henry I of Germany defeats the Magyars at the Battle of Riad. But the Magyars are undaunted and proceed to raid Lombard plain. February, 933 To Romanus Lecapenus's delight, his son Patriarch Theophylactus of Constantinople is consecrated, witnessed by Roman legates dispatched by John XI (at the urging of Alberic of Rome). But Alberic's marriage to a Byzantine princess and formal alliance with the Roman Republic fails to go through, probably on account of Hugh of Provence's frantic diplomacy. 933 Burgundian Union With Hugh of Provence's humiliation at Rome, the barons of Tuscany and Ivrea invite his old rival and former Italian king, Rudolph II of Upper Burgundy, to invade Italy and re-take the Lombard throne. In order to forestall any intervention, Hugh of Provence abdicates the Kingdom of Lower Burgundy in favor of Rudolph II, in return for confirmation in Italy. Rudolph agrees, and thus, the two kingdoms of Upper and Lower Burgundy are joined together under Rudolph II as the single Kingdom of Burgundy.  February, 933 Bishopric of Trieste is annexed by the self-proclaimed Marquis Wintkar/Wintherius of Istria. He sends forth the Triestines, who sail into the Venetian lagoon and raid San Pietro di Castello (eastern Rialto), kidnapping a bunch of Venetian women from the church to take as hostages. They are chased down by the Venetian fleet and defeated at the Battle of Caorle. Peace of Rialto mediated by Patriarch Marino of Grado, puts an end to the Venetian-Istrian war. Crippled by the Venetian blockade, the Istrian cities force the Marquis Wintkar/Wintherius of Istria to seek peace. The Venetian-Capodistria treaty is confirmed and extensive privileges granted to the Venetians in Istrian coastal towns. 933 The Alerami Obscure Frankish-Lombard lord Aleram (later legends mythically associate him with the Saxon kings of Kent) is invested by Hugh of Provence as Count Aleram I of Vercelli-Acqui. This is the root of the Aleramic Marquises of Montferrat. 933 Death of Guaimar III, son & co-ruler of Guaimar II of Salerno.. Guaimar II's second son ascends as co-ruler Gisulf I of Salerno. With Burgundy out of the way, the Italian king Hugh of Provence launches an expedition to Rome to remove the Roman prince Alberic and avenge his humiliation. But it fails. Roman civic militias repel the Lombard armies. Infuriated, Hugh of Provence ravages the Roman countryside, before hurrying back up to Pavia, where rebellious Italian barons are, yet again, conspiring to exploit this humiliation. The Pavian conspiracy, led by the nobles Walpert and Gezo, is swiftly crushed. 934Another conspiracy against Hugh of Provence is hatched, this time by the Count Milo and Bishop Raterius of Verona, who invite Duke Arnulf the Bad of Bavaria to Italy. 935 Early, 935 Arnulf the Bad of Bavaria invades Italy/ Crossing through the Upper Adige, he proceeds towards Verona to join his supporters. But Hugh of Provence takes a large army against him and defeats him at the Battle of Grossolengo, forcing him to return to Bavaria. Hugh takes revenge on the Veronese, executing and despoiling many. Count Milo of Verona, who had backed out of the conspiracy at the last moment, is forgiven, but Bishop Raterius of Verona is deposed and confined to a tower in Pavia. Hugh's nephew, Manasses of Trent, is invested as Bishop of Verona. 935Magyars raid Italy again, but are repelled at Bergamo. Berengar of Ivrea (a nephew of Hugh) occupies Aquileia. 935 The new Fatimid Caliph Abu al-Qasim dispatches a Fatimid naval expedition under Yaqub bin Ishaq al-Tamimi against Europe. Fatimid forces raid the Provencal and Ligurian coasts, sacking Genoa and Pisa. 935 - The Arduini Death of Roger I of Auriate, a Frankish knight who married into a noble Lombard family in Piedmont. He is succeeded by his son Arduin the Bald ('il Glabrio') who ascends as Count Arduin II ('il Glabrio) of Auriate. He will share power for a while with his brother, Roger II of Auriate until the latter's death in 950. They are the stem of the Arduinic Marquises of Piedmont. 935 Death of Count Boso of Burgundy-Arles at the siege of St. Quentin. His wife Bertha of Arles (niece of Hugh of Provence and daughter Boso of Tuscany) continues as Countess of Arles & Avignon, effective ruler of Lower Burgundy. To secure protection, she marries the powerful Count Raymond of Tolouse. 935 Death of Pope John XI, bastard son of the former Roman mistress Marozia and half-brother of Alberic of Rome. He is succeeded by Pope Leo VII. The accord giving Alberic temporal and the Pope spiritual power over the Papal States is renewed. A Benedectine monk, Pope Leo VII calls Abbot Odo of Cluny to Rome, who is to become an important ally to Alberic and (with Abbot John of Gorze) to lead the overhaul of the monasteries (the "Cluniac reform").  - Pope Leo VII 936936 With the Bavarian threat out of the way, Hugh of Provence dispatches his son and co-king, Lothair, with the third expedition to Rome to dislodge Alberic. Assaults after assaults are repulsed by the Roman civic militia. At length, weakened by an epidemic, Lombards press on their king to accept the mediation of Odo of Cluny. Roman-Italian Peace. Peace between Roman ruler Alberic II and Italian King Hugh of Provence, mediated by Odo of Cluny. In short, they agree to leave each other alone. It is sealed by the marriage of Hugo's legitimate daughter Alda of Provence to Alberic of Rome. Even if a peace, it is effectively taken as the third humiliating defeat for Hugo of Provence. 936 Hugonid House of Tuscany - Rumors of a conspiracy prompt the Lombard King Hugh of Provence to depose his own blood brother, Marquis Boso of Tuscany (father of Bertha of Arles & Willa of Ivrea). The March of Tuscany passes to a bastard son of Hugh of Provence, who ascends as Marquis Hubert of Tuscany. However, Boso's humiliation will be avenged by his son-in-law, Willa's husband, Berengar of Ivrea.  - Hugonid Marquises of Tuscany Ivrea + Spoleto Death/deposition? of Marquis Theobald I of Spoleto-Camerino (or deposition rel. to Tuscan conspiracy rumors?). Marquis Anscar II of Ivrea (Hugh's nephew through Ermengarda of Ivrea) is invested as Marquis Anscar ('Ivrea') of Spoleto, partly as a way to get the untrustworthy prince out of northern Italy. Anscar's half-brother Berengar (son of Gisela of Friuli) is invested as Marquis Berengar of Ivrea. 936 Death of Henry I ("the Fowler"), Duke of Saxony and King of Germany. His son succeeds him as Duke Otto II of Saxony and is elected as King Otto I ("the Great") of Germany. He initiates efforts to centralize the German kingdom, but it is met by a revolt of high German dukes, led by Otto's own brother Henry and includes Duke Eberhard III of Franconia and Arnulf the Bad of Bavaria. 936 Death of Elduin of Milan. He is succeeded by Archbishop Arderico Cotta of Milan. 936 Hugh of Provence's nephew, abbot Ratfred of Farfa is poisoned by the dissolute monk Campo. The strategic monastery in Sabina is invested by Hugh in the murderer, who is made abbot Campo of Farfa, and packed with Hugh's armies, a direct threat on Alberic's Rome. 936 Magyars sack Istria.
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:12:00 GMT -5
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:12:28 GMT -5
FEUDAL LOMBARDIA[/size] 937937 Death of rebellious Arnulf the Bad of Bavaria. He is succeeded by his son Duke Eberhard I of Bavaria, who refuses to homage to Otto and joins the rebellion against Otto. Eberhard is defeated and deposed by Otto that same year. Otto I invests the Duchy of Bavaria (subservient to Germany and with reduced the privileges) to Eberhard's uncle, who ascends as Duke Berthold of Bavaria. To oversee things, Otto appoints Eberhard's own brother Arnulf as Count Palatine, to ensure that royal interests are protected. July, 937 Death of King Rudolf II of Burgundy (Upper & Lower). His young 10-year-old son ascends as King Conrad ("the Peaceful") of Burgundy. He will take effective control of unified Burgundy, transferring its capital to Arles (thus the united Burgundian kingdom is also known as the "Kingdom of Arles", or the "Arelate Kingdom of Burgundy"). December, 937 Seeing in the death of Rudolph not only the elimination of an old rival but an opportunity perhaps to extend his influence, the Italian King Hugh of Provence swoops into Arles in December and marries Rudolph's widow Bertha of Swabia (sister of Herman I), takes the young King Conrad under his tutelage and betroths Rudolph's eight-year-old daughter Adelaide of Burgundy to his own son and co-king Lothair II. But Hugh didn't get the support of the Burgundian high nobility. They take hold of the person of young King Conrad and transport him to Germany, placing the boy under the tutelage of King Otto I of Germany. Hugh's plans are foiled and returns to Italy with his new bride Bertha. (But bored soon enough, she will return to Burgundy on her own). 938Magyars raid Italy again with permission from Hugh of Provence, swooping down and crossing the Appenines, to sack the Roman lands in Tuscany, Lazio and the Campania. Sicilian Berbers revolt against their unpopular Fatimid governor, Salim ibn-Rashid. 939939 Otto I defeats an allied army of rebel German dukes, composed of Otto's brother Henry, Eberhard III of Franconia, Giselbert of Lorraine and Archbishop Friedrich of Mainz, at the Battle of Xanten. In the follow-up battle at Anernach, Eberhard and Giselbert are killed while Henry flees to France. The back of the rebellion is broken. 939 Death of Pietro Candiano II. Ascension of Pietro Participazio, the last gasp of the Participazio clan. 939 Death of Pope Leo VII. He is succeeded, with the approval of Alberic of Rome, by Pope Stephen VIII.  - Stephen VIII 939 Abbey of Bobbio is granted almost all the royal property in its dominions. 940Death of Atenulf II of Capua-Benevento (based in Capua). His brother and co-ruler, Landulf I Antipater of Benevento-Capua (based in Benevento) rules on alone, reducing Atenulf II's sons, Atenulf and Landenulf, to mere gastaldes of Sessa and Teano Still hearing conspiratorial rumors about Anscar of Spoleto (formerly of Ivrea), Hugh of Provence dispatches the Burgundian nobleman Sarlione to remove him. Anscar dies in battle and Hugh of Provence invests the Burgundian as Marquis Sarlione of Spoleto. Fearing that Anscar's half-brother, the Marquis Berengar of Ivrea might seek revenge for the murder, Hugh of Provence invites Berengar to the court in Pavia. Tipped off to the ambush by Hugh's own son Lothair, Berengar of Ivrea flees Italy and takes refuge with Duke Herman I of Swabia. He sends his wife, Willa, ahead of him. King Otto of Germany places him under his protection. c.940 House of Canossa A Lucchese count by the name of Siegfried settles in Emilia and enters the service of the Bishop of Reggio. He begins construction of the Castle Canossa. Siegfried is the stem of the future house of Canossa.  - Lords of Canossa  - Ruins of Castle Canossa.  - Reconstruction of Medieval Canossa (from Mathildine site) 941941 Hugh of Provence invests his (illegitimate) son as Bishop Boso of Piacenza. 941 Hugh of Provence launches his fourth expedition against Rome. He proceeds to Lazio and winters at S. Agnese, preparing to go against the city next Spring. But, once again, his attacks fail and he is forced to accept the mediation of Odo of Cluny and the return to the status quo. 942942 Expedition to Fraxinet - His plans against Rome going nowhere, Italian king Hugh of Provence launches an attack on Fraxinet, the Arab colony on the Cote d'Azure that had taken control of the Piedmontese valleys. With the assistance of a Byzantine fleet sent by Romanus Lecapenus, anxious to put an end to Arab piracy of Byzantine shipping, Hugh penetrates the Arab domains and lays siege to their foritified camp. Simultaneously, Arduin 'il Glabrio' of Auriate goes on an offensive and expels the Saracens from Susa valley and captures Turin. Hugh of Provence invests Arduin with Turin.  - mural at Vercelli. But news of Berengar of Ivrea's flight to Germany reaches Hugh at Fraxinet. Fearing a Swabian army is about to descend on Italy, Hugh makes a truce with the Arabs of Fraxinet, allowing them to stay here, so long as they didn't molest his domains in Italy and allow him to pass through their lands to invade Burgundy. The Arabs agree, and Hugh rushes back. The Byzantines cry foul and rip up their alliance with Hugh. 942 Pope Stephen VIII is accused of leading an uprising against Alberic II in Rome and is tortured, mutilated and put to death. He is succeeded by Pope Marinus II.  - Pope Marinus II 942 Death of Odo of Cluny. Replaced by Abbot Aylward of Cluny942 Death of Pietro Participazio. Election of Doge Pietro Candiano III of Venice (son of prior doge). Candiano mediates an agreement between the Patriarchs Lupo II of Aquileia and Marino of Grado, on their respective spheres of influence. 942-3 Magyars raid Friuli and then descend into central Italy. Hugh of Provence grants them a large sum if they go across southern France & Spain instead, but finding the trip difficult, the Magyars return and raid the environs of Rome, destroying the region of Sabina. 943943 Tuscany + Spoleto Death of Sarlione of Spoleto, the Burgundian nobleman appointed just a little before by Hugh of Provence. Hugh invests his bastard son,Hubert of Tuscany, as Marquis Hubert ('Tuscany') of Spoleto-Camerino. Hubert happens to be married to Willa of Camerino, daughter of the late Boniface I of Spoleto. 943 Death of Landulf I Antipater of Benevento-Capua. His sons ascend jointly as Antenulf III ("Carinola") and Landulf II ("the Red") of Benevento-Capua. But Landulf II the Red expels Atenulf III, who proceeds to take refuge in Salerno. To prevent any challenges from his brothers or nephews, Landulf II immediately associates his son Pandulf I ("Capo di Ferro", "Ironhead") as co-ruler of Bevenento-Capua (based mainly in Capua). 944Italian King Hugh of Provence dispatches an embassy to Otto I of Germany, offering a massive sum of cash if he promises not to provide assistance to Berengar of Ivrea. The German king refuses. Berengar of Ivrea dispatches a relative, Amadeus, to Italy to check the sentiments of the high nobility, and receives news of their discontent. Patriarch Lupo II of Aquileia and the Marquis Gottfried of Istria lead an army into Carinthia to fend off a Magyar raid. They are defeated. Lupo II is killed. He is succeeded by Patriarch Engelfried of Aquileia. September, 944 In an attempt to heal the breach between Italy and Greece, Hugh of Provence dispatches his natural daughter, the young Bertha (renamed Eudoxia by the Greeks) to Constantinople, accompanied by Bishop Siegfried of Parma. Bertha is betrothed to young Romanus II, son of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, but she will die four years later, before the marriage is even consummated.
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:12:50 GMT -5
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:13:17 GMT -5
FEUDAL LOMBARDIA[/size] 945First mention of the Castel' Firmiano, a critical fortress on the Upper Adige, controlling the entry to the Brenner Pass and thus the main road between Germany and Italy.  - Castel' Firmiano (Formicaria) Early, 945 From his German base, Berengar of Ivrea invades Italy with very little resistance, having previously obtained the adherence of Hugh's own relative, the Bishop Manasses of Trent-Mantua- Verona, by promising him the Archbishopric of Milan and the castellan Adelard of Formicario (south of Bolzano), by promising him the bishopric of Como. Berengar proceeds swiftly to Verona, where he is received by Count Milo of Verona and Count Guido of Mantua (both prepared by Bishop Manasses). Archbishop Arderico Cotta of Milan and other partisans also receive him. In a frantic attempt to put an end to Ivrea's advance, Hugh of Provence lays siege to Vignola, where the rebellious Count Guido of Mantua had retired. But to no avail. Berengar of Ivrea is hailed throughout northern Italy as a liberator. Knowing he is the cause of the discontent, Hugh flees to Provence, with most of the royal treasury, leaving the way open for his son, Lothair II, much liked by the Italian nobles, to fight for his inheritance himself. Hugh's gambit works. The nobles, divided, cannot choose between Lothair II and Berengar of Ivrea. In an Assembly of Milan a compromise ends the crisis. Hugh of Provence, King of the Lombards, abdicates the throne in favor of his son Lothair (who had, incidentally, been co-ruler since 931) and is now acclaimed as the sole King Lothair II of the Lombards. But he is forced to restore the March of Ivrea to Berengar and grant him the government of the kingdom. Hugh of Provence is allowed to return to retire in Pavia. 945 - Bishopric of Mantua is granted mint rights for Mantua, Verona and Brescia. 945 Superb Republic of Genoa Formation of the Compagna (or sworn association of citizens) to defend the city of Genoa in the aftermath of the Arab raids. The independent Genoese statutes are blessed by Berengar of Ivrea, who is eager to see the Genoese succeed in the development of a fleet to "retake" the Tyrrhanean sea from the Arabs. By this act, the independent republic of Genoa is founded.  - Republic of Genoa 945 Death of Siegfried of Canossa. His son (sometimes called Albert Azzo II) ascends as Lord Adalbert Atto of Canossa 945 - Palatinate of the Rhine Otto I invests a certain lord Herman the Slender, a count in the Rhineland territories of Bonngau, Eifelgau, Zuplichgau, etc. as Count-Palatine Herman I 'the Slender' of Lorraine, thus creating the domains of the future German state known as the 'Palatinate of the Rhine'. He is also the stem of the Ezzonen dynasty. 945 - Frankish-Lombard Count Milo ("Milone") of San Bonifacio is invested as Count Milo ("San Bonifacio") of Verona. 946The powerless Italian king Hugh of Provence makes a pact with Alberic of Rome, renouncing his claims on the imperial title and Rome. Abandoning Italy to his son, the new King Lothair II and his nephew Berengar of Ivrea, Hugh returns to Provence. Seeking to deepen his power, Berengar of Ivrea replaces Hubert of Tuscany-Spoleto (bastard son of Hugh of Provence) by Count Boniface of Bologna (a son-in-law of Robert I of Burgundy - possibly the same one that ruled in the 920s) who ascends as Marquis Boniface II ('Bologna') of Spoleto. Hubert remains marquis in Tuscany. 946 Death of Pope Marinus II. Election, with Alberic of Rome's approval, of Pope Agapitus II, who will turn out to be the most independently-minded of the Alberic-sanctioned popes (which is not saying much).  - Pope Agapitus II. 946 Doge Pietro Candiano III associates his own son, Pietro Candiano IV, with the dogeship. But a rift emerges with his father, and the faction of the young associate doge goes into open warfare on the streets of Venice against his father's faction. Candiano IV is captured and sentenced to death, but, at his father's behest, his life is spared and goes into exile, signing up under the banners of the future Italian king Berengar of Ivrea. He will then take up piracy, commanding corsairs against the merchant marine of his native city. 946 Death of Guaimar II of Salerno. His son and co-ruler since 933 ascends as Prince Gisulf I of Salerno. 947April, 947 Death of Hugh of Provence, former King of Italy and Lower Burgundy, in effective exile at Arles. His daughter, Countess Bertha of Arles inherits the rest of his domains in Provence. Lothair II, of course, remains king in Italy. June, 947 As per the previous arranged betrothal, King Lothair II of Italy marries Adelaide of Burgundy, the now grown-up daughter of Rudolph II and sister of Conrad the Peaceful of Burgundy. But despite this powerful new relatives, Lothair II is unable to challenge Berengar of Ivrea's power over Italy. Berengar of Ivrea consolidates his power in Italy by a series of ecclesiastical appointments. The castellan Adelard of Castel' Firmiano, who had been promised the bishopric of Como, is invested instead as Bishop Adelard of Reggio instead, while another partisan is invested as Bishop Vado of Como. Joseph of Brescia is deposed, and a Berengar partisan is invested as Bishop Antonio of Brescia. Bishop Boso of Piacenza and Bishop Liutprand of Parma, retain their sees on the payment of a notable sum to Berengar. Through the mediation of Count Milo of Verona, Manasses of Trent-Mantua-Verona surrenders that bishopric to Bishop Raterius of Verona, in return for a promised installation in Milan. Brunengo of Asti and Bishop Manasses of Trent-Mantua are to serve Berengar as counsellors. 947 Magyars invade Italy yet again. Berengar of Ivrea negotiates a truce with them, offering them a massive sum (for which he imposes a special tax) and permission to pass through Italy to raid Byzantine Apulia. The ' Magyar tax' is highly unpopular among the Italians, whose discontent is immediately exploited by Lothair II. Lothair also sends out feelers to Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. Spring, 947 Sicilian Uprising With the Fatimids busy with Kharijite rebels, there is a Christian uprising in Sicily against Fatimid rule. The rebels appeal to the Byzantine Empire for assistance. But with the death of Kharijite leader Abu Yazid at Hodna in August, the Fatimid Caliph Ismail al-Mansur sets about restoring the Fatimid dominion over North Africa and Sicily. The Fatimid capital is transferred from Mehdia to Mansuria on the Tunisian coast. 947 Death of Berthold of Bavaria. Although Berthold has a son, Henry the Younger, King Otto I of Germany decides to invest Bavaria in his own oft-insurrectionist but now repentant brother Henry, who ascends as Duke Henry I of Bavaria. To secure his rule, Henry is married to Judith, a daughter of Arnulf the Bad and appoints a series of counts palatine. 948948, Kalbid Emirate of Sicily The Christian rebels and their Byzantine allies are crushed in a battle by the new Fatimid governor Hasan al-Kalbi, who swiftly seizes control of the island. Thus begins the Kalbid dynasty of Sicilian Emirs. From their capital in Palermo, the Kalbids will rule Sicily autonomously for the next century, becoming increasingly independent, giving only nominal recognition to the suzerainity of the Fatimid Caliph. A great mosque is erected in Reggio-in-Calabria.  - Qur'anic verses on Palermo mosque (now cathedral). 948 Death of Herman I of Swabia. The succession sidesteps Herman I's stepson Burchard (from Regelinda of Friuli's first marriage to Burchard II of Swabia), Otto I of Germany invests it instead in his own son Liudolf (who has married Herman's daughter Ida), and thereby ascends as Duke Liudolf of Swabia-- albeit with much reduced privileges and under the eagle-eye of Counts Palatine. Although Liudolf is appointed Otto's heir in Germany, but remains outside his close circle of advisers as his "treacherous" brother Henry I of Bavaria, seems to have his father's ear. 948 Milanese Crisis Death of Arderico Cotta of Milan. Bishop Manasses of Trent-Mantua, who had been promised the seat by Berengar of Ivrea, makes his claim, but the population of Milan revolts and elects their own Archbishop Adelmano of Milan. 948 Bishopric of Trieste Lothair II and Berengar of Ivrea re-create the territorial Bishopric of Trieste, which had been annexed in 932 by the Marquis of Istria. All royal property and rights of jurisdiction within Trieste and five miles around are granted to the Bishop of Trieste and his successors.  - Trieste 950Otto establishes the Duchy of Bohemia as a tributary state to Germany. November, 950 Death of the young King Lothair II of the Lombards. His cousin and governor of Italy since 945, Marquis Berengar of Ivrea (son of Adalbert I of Ivrea and nephew of Hugh of Provence), has himself crowned as King Berengar II ("Ivrea") of the Lombards at Pavia in December. Berengar's son, Count Adalbert of Aosta, is crowned as co-King Adalbert II of Italy. His second son is invested as Marquis Conrad of Milan and his third is invested this year as Marquis Guido of Ivrea. House of Obertenghi The Count Oberto Obizzo of Tortona, an ally is invested as Count of Luni and Genoa, thereby creating the stem of the Obertenghi marquises. This sets the final stone in the partition of the Ivrean march.
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:13:35 GMT -5
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:13:50 GMT -5
ASIDE: THE MARQUISES[/size] Partition of Ivrea - Under Berengar II's reorganization, the gigantic March of Ivrea in northwestern Italy is partitioned into four parts, all of which will be raised into marquisates: - (1) March of Ivrea (Anscarid) (northern Piedmont & western Lombardia), a much-reduced March of Ivrea (covering Ivrea, Vercelli, Lomellino & the northern valleys) is invested in Berengar's own son, Marquis Guido of Ivrea. - (2) March of Italy (Arduinic) (western Piedmont). Also known as the 'March of Turin', composed of the counties of Turin, Auriate, Asti, Bredulo, Alba, Albenga, Ventimiglia, etc. Invested in Count Arduin ('il Glabrio', 'the Bald') of Auriate-Turin. - (3) March of Western Liguria (Aleramic) (western Liguria & Montferrat), centered at Savona, is divided from the former by the Po river and covers the regions of Savona, Acqui, Vado and Montferrat. Invested in Berengar's son-in-law, the Count Aleram of Vercelli-Acqui (note: seems like the city of Vercelli itself - under its bishop - is in the Anscarid march though). The marquises of Savona, Busca and Saluzzo are descended from the Aleramic stem. - (4) March of Eastern Liguria (Obertenghi) (eastern Liguria & western Emilia), covering Genoa, northern Tuscany (Lunigiana, Massa, Carrara) and the Emilian town of Tortona with supervisory powers over Parma and Piacenza. Invested in Count Oberto I ('Obizzo') of Tortona-Luni. The Obertenghi marquises are the stems of the marquises of Este, Pellavicini, Cavalcabo and Malaspina. 
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:14:18 GMT -5
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:14:39 GMT -5
FEUDAL LOMBARDIA[/size] 951951The premature death of Lothair II prompt rumors of the role of Berengar II of Ivrea in his death. The opposition to the Italian strongman and new king gathers around Lothair's feisty 19-year-old widow, Adelaide of Burgundy.  - Adelaide of Burgundy, Queen of Lombardia, Queen of Germany, Empress. April, 951 Despite the security of his claim to the throne, Berengar II attempts to marry Adelaide of Burgundy, the widow of Lothair II, to his own son Adalbert II. But upon her refusal, Berengar II has her arrested in Como and then transferred to a tower in Lake Garda. She subsequently escapes and is placed under the protection of the castellan Adalbert Atto of Canossa, a vassal of Bishop Adelard of Reggio. From Reggio, Adelaide appeals to her brother King Conrad of Burgundy and King Otto I of Germany for assistance against Berengar II of Ivrea. Otto is moved not only by her appeals, but also by the prospect an imperial coronation in Rome (Pope Agapitus II had secretly requested assistance to deliver Rome from Alberic's yoke) as well as a desire to punish Berengar II for assuming the Italian throne without permission (thus breaking his vassalage agreement with Otto). Otto begins preparations for an invasion. 951 While Otto is still preparing his army, his son, Liudolf of Swabia invades Italy on his own account, supported by the now-rebellious Bishop Raterio of Verona. But the young Liudolf's expedition is stopped by his uncle, Henry I of Bavaria (who has his own designs on northern Italy) and is forced to return to Swabia. Liudolf appeals to his father for justice, but Otto sides with Henry. September, 951 German Invasion of Italy Otto I of Germany crosses the Brenner pass and takes his army into Italy. He is accompanied by his brothers, Henry I of Bavaria and Bruno, Duke Conrad the Red of Lorraine, and a train of German bishops, including those of Cologne, Mainz and Trier. They are joined along the way by his resentful son Liudolf of Swabia and the rebellious Bishop Raterius of Verona. Otto I faces no opposition. Manasses of Trent lets them through, as does Count Milo of Verona. They arrive in Pavia in late September. Berengar II of Ivrea had departed the day before and entrenched himself in Ivrea. At Pavia, Otto declares himself King Otto I ('the Great') of the Lombards (but doesn't bother with a coronation, but receives the homage of the Italian barons), thereby uniting the two old Frankish kingdoms of Germany and Italy. The destiny of the two kingdoms will be entangled with each other for the next nine hundred years or so.  - Otto I the Great, Duke of Saxony, King of Germany, King of the Lombards, Emperor. Statue of Otto the Great (modern) October, 951 Otto I of Germany-Lombardy dispatches an embassy to Reggio to request the hand of Adelaide, widowed queen of Lothair II. She accepts and they are duly married with great pomp in Pavia. Fall, 951 Otto I dispatches an embassy under the Bishop of Coiro and Mainz to apply for an imperial coronation with Pope Agapitus II -- but Prince Alberic of Rome makes it clear that such is not possible and does not receive them. Wary that his position in Italy is not strong enough to launch an attack on Rome, Otto I forgets the whole thing. 952Summer, 952 Leaving a strong German garrison at Pavia in the hands of Duke Conrad the Red of Lorraine, King Otto I leaves Pavia proceeds back to Germany. On his way home, Otto makes a pact with Berengar II, allowing him to rule Italy as a vassal of the German king. Berengar II accepts and proceeds to Germany for a ratification of the agreement. This move disappoints several high German nobles who had hoped for that appointment themselves and take it as a personal slight. August, 952 Diet of Augsburg assembled by Otto I to ratify his rule in Italy. The German nobles and bishops are joined by Italian counterparts, notably Bishop Manasses of Trent (in name of Milan), Peter of Ravenna and the bishops of Pavia, Brescia, Como, Tortona, Piacenza, Parma, Modena and Acqui. In front of them all, Berengar II of Ivrea and his son and co-ruler Adalbert II do homage to Otto I for Italy.  - Berengar II of Ivrea doing homage to Otto I of Germany 952 Bavarian Friuli At Augsburg, hoping to better organize the defenses against the Magyars, Otto I lops off the entire the northeastern part of Italy east of the Adda river, composed of the marches of Verona, Friuli and Istria, from the Kingdom of Lombardy and annexes them to the Duchy of Bavaria. His own brother, Duke Henry I of Bavaria, is to oversee the defense of the marchlands. This move naturally delights Henry of Bavaria -- and simultaneously infuriates Liudolf of Swabia, who had quarreled with Henry the previous year. c.952 March of Verona It is around this time that Milo (Milone) of San Bonifacio, Count of Verona, is given the title of Marquis Milo ('San Bonifacio') of Verona. Upon his death (c.959), however, the title of Marquis of Verona will be folded back to the Duke of Carinthia.  953953 Otto I ensures the appointment of his brother as Archbishop Bruno I of Cologne. 953-5 Liudolf's Revolt Otto's ambitious son, Liudulf of Swabia is already chafing over Otto's siding with his uncle Henry, his appointment of Berengar II as viceroy in Italy. But the announcement in 953 that Otto I's new queen Adelaide has given birth to a new heir (the future Otto II), prompts Liudolf of Swabia, into open revolt. His brother-in-law, Conrad the Red of Lorraine and the ever-belligerent Archbishop Frederick of Mainz join in. Otto I is captured by the conspirators and forced to cede to certain demands, but immediately renounces them when released. Swabia and Lorraine rise up in arms, and a full-fledged war is on -- spreading swiftly to Bavaria and Saxony. 953 Growing seriously ill and approaching death, Alberic of Rome assembles the magnates of Rome and has them swear an oath to elect Octavian, Alberic's son and heir as prince of Rome, in succession to Pope Agapitus II. 953 Death/deposition of the popular Archbishop Adelmano of Milan, who had been defying Bishop Manasses of Trent-Mantua, who had been appointed to that post in 948. But Berengar II of Ivrea avenges himself on the treacherous Manasses by coming to an agreement with the people of Milan and appointing Archbishop Walpert ("de Medici") of Milan instead. Continuing on his vengeance, Berengar II of Ivrea seizes the island of S. Giulio from the Bishop of Novara, imprisons Adalbert Atto of Canossa (who had assisted Adelaide's escape) and expels the chronicler Bishop Liutprand of Cremona. Berengar's conduct alarms Otto, but he is currently busy with Liudolf's revolt. 953 Death of Boniface II, Count of Bologna and Duke of Spoleto. Succeeded by his son as Marquis Theobald II ("Bologna") of Spoleto. 953 Death of Count-Palatine Lanfranc I of Bergamo-Pavia. His son ascends as Count-Palatine Giselbert II of Bergamo-Pavia. 953 End of the Sicilian War. 954Magyar invasion of Bavaria Liudolf of Swabia makes a deal with the Magyars, inducing a massive invasion of Bavaria. The Magyars proceed to lay siege to Augsburg, valiantly defended by Bishop Uldaric. The northern Slavs jump into the fray and ravage the borderlands of Saxony. Alas, by inducing the foreign invasions, Liudolf of Swabia's cause loses much sympathy. The German barons abandon the rebel and line up behind Otto I to face the Magyar & Slav advances. At the Diet of Langazzen, Archbishop Friedrich of Mainz submits to Otto I. He steps down and is replaced by Otto's illegitimate son, who ascends as Archbishop William of Mainz. 954 Another Magyar incursion, defeated in Burgundy, head east into Italy, ravaging the Paduan plain and Friuli. 954 Death of Alberic II of Rome. His youthful and distracted son Octavian, already pre-elected as pope, succeeds as Senator and Prince Octavian of Rome. 954 Principality of St. Matthew Prince Gisulf I of Salerno has the remains of the evangelist, St. Matthew, brought to Salerno. December, 954 Diet of Auerstadt Otto's son Liudulf of Swabia and his brother-in-law, Conrad the Red of Lorraine, submit to Otto I. Although allowed to keep their estates, Ludolf and Conrad are stripped of their duchies. Liudolf's Swabia is invested in a son of the Conradiner duke Burchard II, who ascends as Duke Burchard III of Swabia. Otto also dispossesses his Salian son-in-law Conrad the Red, and invests his duchy in his own brother, Bruno of Cologne, who ascends as Duke Bruno of Lorraine. Despite the submission of Frederick of Mainz, Liudulf of Swabia and Conrad of Lorraine, several rebel barons continue to hold out for yet another year.
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:14:55 GMT -5
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:15:20 GMT -5
FEUDAL LOMBARDIA[/size] 955955 The German barons' rebellion is finally completely quashed when the last hold-out, Regensburg falls to Otto. Otto then races to Augsburg, which is being menaced by the advancing Magyars. August, 955 Battle of Lechfeld Otto I of Germany takes a huge army and overwhelmingly defeats the Magyars on the River Lech, near Augsburg. Conrad the Red of Lorraine is killed in the battle. This victory puts a final end to Magyar raids on Germany and Italy.  - Lechfeld Another depiction of Otto at the Battle of LechfeldOctober, 955 Turning north, Otto I of Germany defeats and subjugates the Slavs at the Battle of Recknitz, near the Elbe. The March of Moravia is established as a tributary state to Bohemia. November, 955 Death of Henry I of Bavaria (Otto I's brother). Henry's young son ascends as Henry II ("the Quarrelsome") of Bavaria, under the regency of his mother Judith of Bavaria. December, 955 Death of Pope Agapitus II. As sworn by the Roman barons in 953, Alberic II's twenty-something son and prince, Octavian of Rome, ascends as Pope John XII.  - Octavian, Prince and Senator of Rome, Pope John XII 956 Liudolf in Italy With uncle Henry of Bavaria out of the way, Liudolf reconciles with his father Otto and asks for installation in some duchy. Otto, still suspect refuses. But at the instigation of his other uncle, Bruno of Cologne-Lorraine, Otto relents and allows Liudolf to prove himself by heading an expedition to Italy to bring the wayward vassal Berengar II of Ivrea, to heel. Berengar II dispatches an Italian army under his own son Adalbert II to counter Liudolf, while he guards Pavia himself. In two battles, Liudolf defeats Adalbert and enters Pavia, there to receive the homage of the Italian barons and clergy on behalf of Otto I. In the meantime, with Berengar busy with Liudolf, Pope John XII prepares an expedition to invade Capua-Benevento, thereby make good the Papal claims there. He secures the support of his relatives Hubert of Tuscany and Theobald II of Spoleto-Camerino. The assembled army proceeds to lay siege to Capua, but the young co-prince Pandulf I ("Ironhead") of Benevento-Capua puts up such a stiff resistance that the Romans makes little headway. 957The hostility of Gisulf I of Salerno finally forces the Romans to quit the enterprise. Pope John XII is forced to sign a humiliating treaty with Gisulf I of Salerno. But his ambitions remain. John XII begins to laying out plans for the reconquest of the lands of Ravenna. September, 957 Leaving Pavia for Germany, Otto's son Liudolf dies, seized by a violent fever near Pombia (it is rumored from a latent poison administered somehow by Berengar II's agents). The German armies return home, leaving Berengar of Ivrea in control of Italy. 958Like before, Berengar II goes on a hunt of those lords who had supported Liudolf. The first targets are Archbishop Walpert de Medici of Milan, who escapes, and Bishop Valdo of Como, who is deposed and his bishopric passed on to the ever-machiavellan Manasses of Trent. Berengar II of Ivrea then turns his ire on the young Pope John XII, but decides to first move against his allies first. Wisely, Berengar extracts Hubert of Tuscany from the Pope's side and dispatches an army under his son, Guido of Ivrea and his friend, Pietro Candiano (mercenary son of Pietro Candiano III of Venice) against Theobald II of Spoleto. 959Partition of Lorraine Archbishop Bruno of Cologne resigns as Duke of Lorraine. King Otto I of Germany divides the duchy in two parts - Upper Lorraine and Lower Lorraine. Death of Landulf II of Benvento-Capua. His son and co-ruler ascends as Prince Pandulf I ('Capo di ferro', Ironhead') of Benevento-Capua, jointly with his brother, who ascends as Prince Landulf III of Benevento-Capua.  - Pandulf I 'Ironhead' with Landulf III of Benevento-Capua 959 Death of Pietro Candiano III. Peculiarly, his estranged & exiled son, a mercenary adventurer whom had once led corsairs against Venetian shipping, is elected as Doge Pietro Candiano IV of Venice. He breaks off his campaign in Spoleto on behalf of Berengar II to return to Venice.  - Pietro Candiano IV of Venice Around this time, Pietro Candiano IV divorces his Venetian wife Joanna and dispatches her to the monastery of S. Zaccaria, and marries Waldrada of Tuscany, daughter of Hubert of Tuscany. As dowry, she bring immense mainland territories in Friuli and the Polesine area. Relationship between the doge and the republic worsens, as this property makes him almost unchallengeable in the republic (his personal bodyguard is made up of soldiers from the mainland territories). Also, with this acquisition, Pietro Candiano IV is now a feudal vassal of the Lombard king, thereby potentially compromising the treasured independence of Venice.
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Post by Khalid ibn Walid on Feb 12, 2007 18:15:45 GMT -5
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