Thread by @LandsknechtPike

Today is the anniversary of the battle of Civitate in 1053, one of the key battles in Norman conquest of southern Italy. The Normans crushed a twice larger army of local Italians, Lombards and valiant Swabian mercenaries, proving the superiority of Norman cavalry once again.

At the time, the control over south of Italy was contested by various local powers. The Byzantines, the Pope, the Holy Roman Empire and The Mohammedan Saracens who conquered Sicily all had their interests in the area, which was largely ruled by the local Lombard principalities.

The Normans first made their presence known in this region as elite mercenaries, serving different powers that fought over these lands for money. However with their success in battles, the bold and adventurous Normans began carving out a territory for themselves.

The might of the Normans increased greatly with the leadership of men the Hauteville family, sons of the legendary Tancred of Hauteville who had 12 sons. In 1043, they established the Norman County of Apulia and Calabria and ruled over it with an iron fist! Their coat of arms:

The harsh Norman rule and their raids made the local population hate them and the neighboring powers were starting to fear the Norman expansion and began making moves. When Leo IX, described as determined and admirable, became pope in 1049, he intended to solve the Norman problem

The Byzantines were also keen to kick the Normans out of Italy and in 1051 assassinated Drogo of Hauteville, the Norman Count of Apulia and Calabria. Argyrus, the Byzantine catepan of Italy, made an alliance with the pope to form a local anti-Norman coalition.Tomb of Hautevilles:

Pope Leo IX was particularly enraged at the Normans after they continued their pillaging in an even more fierce manner after the death of Drogo and spread on the territory of Benevento which swore fealty to him.

Pope Leo IX traveled over the Alps to Saxony to look for help from Holy Roman Emperor Henry III, who was his relative and ally, but the emperor did not give him aid. Instead the papal chancellor Gerard, Duke of Lorraine gathered a force of 700 elite fierce Swabian mercenaries.

Meanwhile the Normans elected Humphrey of Hauteville as the new count and took the offensive against the Byzantines in both Apulia and Calabria, destroying Argyrus' force at Taranto while Robert Guiscard beat another Byzantine detachment at Crotone.

These defeats demoralized the Byzantines and deterred them from taking an initiative. The Normans now had to deal with the Pope Leo IX who on top of elite Swabian mercenaries gathered a large motley force of Lombard and Italian levies. He commanded a huge, but undisciplined army.

To face this threat, the Normans had rallied every knight of theirs who could ride. They gathered around 3000 cavalry and 500 infantry, divided in three detachments commanded by Robert Guiscard, Humphrey of Hauteville, and Richard of Aversa - brave, illustrious noblemen of honor!

The Normans who faced around 6000 men strong papal army near the city of Civitate were not in best condition, hungry and tired from weeks of forced marches in the summer heat. They sought truce and negotiations. Some say this was out of their piety not wanting to fight the pope.

The pope did not want to accept the Norman offer for truce and affirmation of status quo. He wanted the Normans gone from Italy for good and was confident in his numerically superior forces. He was also awaiting reinforcements from the Byzantines and just wanted to buy time.

The valiant and brash Swabian mercenaries even taunted the Normans! William of Apulia writes: "The Germans, notable for their long hair, good looks and height, mocked the Normans, who seemed small [to them]" They told the pope, "They have not yet experienced German swords."

The restless Normans started the battle with Richard of Aversa gallantly charging into the large Italian detachment of the papal army. "Fear filled them all, and they turned and fled... They fled like doves with a hawk in pursuit." Richard's knights pursued them and killed many!

Meanwhile the Swabians advanced and clashed with Humphrey's dismounted knights in the center. The battle was fierce as the Swabians were immensely brave and well skilled with long two-handed swords. Seing his brother in trouble, Robert Guiscard joined with his reserve detachment.

William of Apulia writes: "[Swabians] were proud people of great courage, but not versed in horsemanship, who fought rather with the sword than with the lance... These swords were very long and keen, and they were often capable of cutting someone vertically in two!"

The battle between Norman knights and Swabian mercenaries was gruesome, one could see bodies split down the middle! It looked like the Normans finally met their match on the battlefield Finally, Richard of Aversa returned with his cavalry and charged into enemy from behind!

Richard's cavalry charge turned the tide of the battle into Norman favor and they overwhelmed the Swabians from all sides. Rather than surrendering, the Swabian mercenaries fought to the death. "Of all these men not one survived," wrote William of Apulia. Much honor to them!

Following the defeat, the pope retreated inside the city walls of Civitate, but the Normans demanded the citizens to let him out. Once before him, the Normans showed their respect by prostrating in front of pope in display of piety and humility in front of Vicar of Christ!

The pope had no choice but to agree to the Norman rule over the territories they gained, and to make peace with them. The battle of Civitate was a very important event in Norman conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily, and a display of the military superiority of their cavalry.

Indeed, the Norman cavalry was crucial in this battle, as they were able to charge multiple times and regroup in discipline. In the 11th century, a well executed Norman heavy cavalry charge was definitely the single most lethal weapon in the battlefield, and it won them so much!

While the Swabian mercenaries proved their worth and were also highly praised by the Normans for their bravery, the other papal soldiers did not. They were undisciplined, poorly trained and badly coordinated. Thus their numerical superiority meant little in face of Norman knights

William of Apulia speaks poorly of Italians in the battle, "The dregs of Italy, an most unworthy people, the men of the Marches, rightly held in low esteem by the Italians. Many of the Italians pretended great courage, but fear, trembling and decadence were their basic instincts"

Despite the pope himself leading an army against the Normans, the Norman victory was ironically better for European Christendom since the Normans ultimately conquered Sicily from the Mohammedan Saracens who ruled it and were also crucial in the first crusade. Much glory to them!