Abulchares (, ; died 1068) was a

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...

general of

Arab Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...

origin who served as the

catepan of Italy The Catepanate of Italy (, ''Katepaníkion Italías'') was a province ('' theme'') of the Byzantine Empire, that existed from c. 965 until 1071. It was headed by a governor (''katepano'') with both civil and military powers. At its greatest exten ...

from 1064 until his death. The chief sources for his catapanate are ''

Skylitzes Continuatus John Skylitzes, commonly Latinized as Ioannes Scylitzes (, ; , ; early 1040s – after 1101), was a Byzantine historian of the late 11th century. Life Very little is known about his life. The title of his work records him as a '' kouropalat ...

'' and ''

Anonymi Barensis Chronicon ''Anonymi Barensis Chronicon'' is a medieval Italian annalistic chronicle. Composed in Latin by an anonymous author from Bari in the first quarter of the 12th century, it covers the years 855–1118, concentrating first and foremost on the even ...

''. ''Skylitzes Continuatus'' records that Abulchares was also duke ('' doux'') of Dyrrhachium across the Adriatic, but this is chronologically impossible, since

Perenos Leo Perenos (Greek language, Greek: Λέων Περενός) was a Byzantine Empire, Byzantine governor (''dux, doux'') of Dyrrhachium (theme), Dyrrhachium, and the penultimate Catepanate of Italy, Catepan of Italy. In April 1064, as the ''doux' ...

is recorded as duke at this time. Abulchares arrived in southern Italy in 1064, when the

Normans The Normans (Norman language, Norman: ''Normaunds''; ; ) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norsemen, Norse Viking settlers and locals of West Francia. The Norse settlements in West Franc ...

were in control of much of the former Catepanate. His task was to travel about

Apulia Apulia ( ), also known by its Italian language, Italian name Puglia (), is a Regions of Italy, region of Italy, located in the Southern Italy, southern peninsular section of the country, bordering the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Strait of Ot ...

shoring up the defences of the scattered towns still loyal to the Byzantines. In 1064, he took

Herman of Hauteville Herman of Hauteville (''Ermanno'' in Italian) ( 1045 – 1097) was the younger son of Humphrey, count of Apulia and Calabria (1051–1057), and his Lombard wife, Gaitelgrima of Salerno, also known as Altrude. His older brother Abelard was suppos ...

as a hostage for the loyalty of his brother,

Abelard of Hauteville Abelard of HautevilleHis name is ''Abélard'' in French and ''Abelardo'' or ''Abailardo'' in Italian. He is sometimes called Abagelard and it is sometimes asserted that his father was originally named Abagelard as well. ( 1044 – 1081) was the ...

, who had rebelled with Byzantine support against their uncle, Duke

Robert Guiscard Robert Guiscard ( , ; – 17 July 1085), also referred to as Robert de Hauteville, was a Normans, Norman adventurer remembered for his Norman conquest of southern Italy, conquest of southern Italy and Sicily in the 11th century. Robert was born ...

, over a disputed inheritance. The rebellion was quickly put down. In 1066 an army was sent to Italy under Maurex and by 1067 he had recaptured the Norman-occupied cities of

Brindisi Brindisi ( ; ) is a city in the region of Apulia in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Historically, the city has played an essential role in trade and culture due to its strategic position ...

and

Taranto Taranto (; ; previously called Tarent in English) is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Taranto, serving as an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base. Founded by Spartans ...

. Abulchares appointed ''

strategoi ''Strategos'' (), also known by its Latinized form ''strategus'', is a Greek term to mean 'military general'. In the Hellenistic world and in the Byzantine Empire, the term was also used to describe a military governor. In the modern Hellenic ...

'' equipped with reinforcements to defend the towns.

Nikephoros Karantenos Nikephoros Karantenos, Latinized as Nicephorus Carantenus (), (''fl.'' 1067–1072) was a Byzantine general known for fighting against the Bulgarians in the Balkans and the Normans in Italy. The main sources for his life is the continuator (''Sky ...

, the ''strategos'' who defended

from the Normans in 1070, may have been one of Abulchares' appointees. By 1068,

Otranto Otranto (, , ; ; ; ; ) is a coastal town, port and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce (Apulia, Italy), in a fertile region once famous for its breed of horses. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy"). ...

had also been recovered. Abulchares died in 1068, the same year as the former catepan Argyrus. Their deaths were a blow to the Byzantines. After his death,

Bari Bari ( ; ; ; ) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia Regions of Italy, region, on the Adriatic Sea in southern Italy. It is the first most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy. It is a port and ...

, which he had resupplied, was besieged and taken by the Normans under Robert Guiscard. Perenos was appointed catepan, but was unable to cross the sea. According to

Amatus of Montecassino Amatus of Montecassino (), (11th century) was a Benedictine monk of the Abbey of Montecassino who is best known for his historical chronicles of his era. His ''History of the Normans'' (which has survived only in its medieval French translation, ...

, a catepan named Avartutele came to Bari in 1069 and sent for a relief force. There is no other record of a catepan of this name, and it may be an error for Abulchares, who was already dead when the siege began.

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* * * * {{end 1068 deaths 11th-century catepans of Italy Byzantine people of Arab descent Byzantine people of the Byzantine–Norman wars