The Nobility of Normandy 
                                          Preserved in the Great Annals of the Four Masters [Ireland] 1566. 
                                                                    Translated by Owen Connellan
                     The Historical Information was Collected by the above Masters from the Saga 'The Heimskringla'.

     ' In the latter of the ninth century, Rolf or Rollo, a Norwegian Lord, sprung from the ancient Kings of Norway 
       having committed many piratical depredations and was expelled from  Norway by King Harold Harfager. 
       Rollo retired with his ships to  Denmark, and afterwards to the Orkneys & Hebrides, joined by many Danish  
       & Norwegian warriors.  They attacked  England but after several attempts having opposed by King Alfred, 
       were unable to make any settlement there and they set sail for France, over-running a great part of that country.
  
      Finally Rollo, at the head of  30,000 Danish & Norwegian warriors, compelled Charles ‘the Simple’, King of France, 
      to cede to them the  principality of Nemstria, which from these Nordmen, or Norsemen acquired the name 
      ‘Normandy’.
  
      This event took place in the  beginning of the tenth century AD911, and Rollo received his principality and obtained 
      in marriage Gisella, daughter of King Charles of France, on condition that he and his followers should adopt the 
      Christian Faith to which Rollo agreed.
 
      This valiant chief was a man of great strength and stature, and of such a size that no horse could carry him, hence he 
       always went on foot, he was called Rolf Gaunger, that is Rolf  ‘the Walker’.
 
      Rolf or Rollo and his descendants, as Dukes of Normandy ruled over that province from the tenth to the 13th century; 
      and in the 11th century, William, Duke  of Normandy conquered England. 

      Many of the most eminent noble families of France were of Norman Descent; and in the 11th & 12th  centuries the 
      Normans of France under Counts William Bras-de-fer  ‘Iron-arms’, Robert and Roger Guiscard, and other warlike 
      leaders conquered a great part of Southern Italy in the ancient Apalia now part of the kingdom of Naples and also 
      Sicily.
 
      Count Bohemond, son of Robert Guiscard, the Norman conquers of Apulia, who with his cousin Tancred, were two of 
      the most famous warriors of the Crusades after victories in the East. '
      Further reading;
      http://books.google.com.au/books?id=IEITng6KDSIC&pg=PA463&lpg=PA463&dq=%22William+Bras-de-Fer%22

 
                                                                          Robert Guiscard   (ges’kar’)
                                                                              [c.1016-1085]

            The nearest variant of the name in France is found in the famed exploits of the Norman Nobleman, 
            Robert Guiscard [c.1016-1085] [aka Robert Gui-Scard].

            Robert's conquests securing Sicily and Southern Italy under Norman control were second only in Military 
            prowess to William Duke of Normandy who while Robert turned his attention to Italy, William, subdued
            the Saxon's in England under Norman control at Hastings defeating Harold in a single day in 1066.
            William named his first born son 'Robert' co-incidentally the namesake of this great Warlord.    

            Robert was the sixth son of Tancred of Hauteville, Lord of the small village Haute-ville-la-Guichard 
            near Coutances in Normandy.  His father, of minor nobility nonetheless had fief of six knights.

            Several War Lords including Robert’s eldest brother William of Hauterville, who was given the soubriquet 
            'Bras-de-Fer' or ‘iron-arm’ having entered Southern Italy in the 1030’s accompanied also by his brother Drago, 
             through successful Military campaigns held Norman control over Sicily.
 
            The Normans having divided the conquered territories into so may fiefs among their leaders, appointed 
            of them, William Bras-de-Fer to be above the rest as president in the council and captain–general in the 
            field, with title of Count of Apulia. 

            Robert, an impoverished younger son left Normandy accompanied by five horsemen & thirty foot-soldiers 
            joining his brothers in 1046 after spending the early part of his Military career pillaging monasteries and  
            robbing travelers in order to pay his men. 

            Anna Comnena [1083-1153] the famed Byzantine Historian of the 1st Crusade, leaves us her legacy  
            relating to Robert; 
  
                    “This Robert was Norman by descent, of minor origin, in temper  tyrannical, in mind most cunning, 
                       brave in  action, very clever in attacking the wealth and substance of magnates.  
                       His stature was so lofty that he surpassed even the tallest, his complexion was ruddy, his hair flaxen, 
                       his shoulders were broad, his eyes all but emitted sparks of fire, and in frame he was well-built ... 
                       this man's cry is said to have put thousands to flight. 
                       Thus equipped by fortune, physique and character, he was naturally indomitable, and subordinate 
                       to no one in the world."

                         Anna, was of a Noblewoman, well educated and groomed to assume control of her Families Estates. 
                         Her aspirations were foiled at the birth of her much younger brother. 
                         Of course Anna was quoting from legends taught to her as a child, she being only three years 
                         old at Robert's death.  She wrote her famed works at the age of fifty-five, after being widowed some 
                         years prior she had subsequently joined a Convent of learning. 
                         She is renown as the earliest female Historian.

              Robert was known by the soubriquet "Guiscard" meaning 'wise or cunning'  allegedly given to him 
              for his shrewdness however the region of his cradle ‘Haute-ville-la-Guichard, the suffix  'Guichard' 
              possibly more likely adopted and altered phonetically.
 
              William died soon after Robert's arrival in 1046 and Robert's other brother Drago was proclaimed 
              Count of Apulia with Robert as his vassal waging successful campaigns in the provinces of Reggio  & 
              Cosenza, conquering Calabria and went on to Defeat the Saracens in Southern Italy & quell outbreaks 
               in Sicily.
 
               When his brother Drogo was assassinated in 1051, the title of ‘Count of Normandy’ fell to his next elder 
               brother Humphrey and Robert remained in the service of his highest ranking brother. 

              That year [1051] Robert married married Aubrée [aka Albérade de Pouille] a kinswoman of a Norman 
              chief of the territory of Benevento who bore him a son, Bohemond, during which time he renounced 
              this manner of life retaining a small contingency of only two hundred horsemen.
 
              However on the death of his brother Humphrey in 1057, with many years of effort in his conquests, to 
              much to relinquish, Robert caused himself to be elected leader of the Normans in Sicily to the detriment 
              of his young nephews, the two sons of his brother, whose inheritance he appropriated as rightfully his,  
              thus assuming his place as now 'Duke' of Apulia.  
 
              He then established his younger brother Roger Guiscard [c.1031-1101] in Calabria in 1058 who had previously
              joined forces with him in the conquest of the region. 
              Roger was also described as an courageous soldier and great Military leader but in contrast to his brother 
              was eloquent and of fine features.
  
              In this year [1058] Robert had repudiated Aubrée, to wed the Lombard Sykelgaite, [aka Sikelgaita de 
              Salerno], sister of Gisulf, Prince of Salerno who bore him three sons two of which were named 
              Roger & William and seven daughters.

              In contrast to Aubrée, she appears to have been ambitious, actively associated in all his undertakings, 
              accompanying him in his expeditions and persuaded him to designate his eldest son by his 2nd marriage,
              her own son Roger, as his successor to the detriment of his heir apparent, Bohemond.
              [note:  Many Sites give Bohemond as Robert's youngest son by Sykelgaite, despite much evidence to the contrary] 

              Robert's Military achievements are far too numerous to mention here and can be found readily online, 
              suffice to say in this brief synopsis, that after many successful campaigns throughout Southern Italy, 
              the capture of Palermo, besieged readily by Robert and his younger brother Roger, they regained power over
              militant renegades and were firmly entrenched as the Norman Masters of all Sicily. 
              Roger retained the greater part of the country, but remained his brother's vassal.
 
              Having now reached the height of his power, at the age of sixty-four, conceived his dream to undertake 
              the conquest of the Byzantine Empire.

              He recovered Corfu and was preparing to capture Cephalonia and embarked for the East, where his son 
              Bohemond was carrying on the war against the emperor Alexius Comnenus in the defense 
              of his son-in-law Michael VII of Constantinople defeating Alexius in 1081.  Turning to Epirus he defeated the 
             Greeks but on his return to Constantinople he died at Cephalonia after a short illness on the 17 July, 1085 
              at the age of seventy, heralded as the founder of the Sicilian Monarchy.

             To his brother Count Roger, he bequeathed all Sicily and part of the Calabria, with the exception of the city 
             of Palermo, which he had chosen for his own capital.
                                  Count Roger of Sicily protected all his subjects, Christians, Saracens and Jews. 
                                  Mirroring the great Greek Alexander, Roger respected all religions and Cultures, even 
                                  supporting a Mohammedan Sector in his Realm.  He was popular with all his subjects.  
                                  He died in on the 22nd June 1101 at the age of seventy at Mileto in Calabria and was buried with 
                                  great affection and ceremony.                                   
                                  He was succeeded by his son Roger.  

            To his second son Roger he left the Duchy of Apulia, with Salario and the rest of his continental dominions.
                                 Duke Roger of Apulia died at Salerno in 1111 and was succeeded by his son William. 
                                 Duke William died at Salerno, having no issue in 1127.  Pope Henrius opposed the 
                                 claim of inheritance by William's cousin Roger [the younger] of Sicily but was defeated.
    
          And to Bohemond he gave his Eastern conquests.  
                                 Bohemond afterwards having joined the great crusade, became the founder of the Kingdom of Antioch. 
                                 Bohemond fell ill an died in the island of Corfu, at the age of sixty.