In 1030, the first

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 9th and 10th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norma ...

foothold in the

Mezzogiorno Southern Italy (, , or , ; ; ), also known as () or (; ; ; ), is a macroregion of Italy consisting of its southern regions. The term "" today mostly refers to the regions that are associated with the people, lands or culture of the historic ...

was created when

Sergius IV of Naples Sergius IV (died after 1036) was Duke of Naples from 1002 to 1036. He was one of the prime catalysts in the growth of Norman power in the Mezzogiorno in the first half of the eleventh century. He was nominally a Byzantine vassal, like his fathe ...

gave the town and vicinity of

Aversa Aversa () is a city and ''comune'' in the Province of Caserta in Campania, southern Italy, about 24 km north of Naples. It is the centre of an agricultural district, the ''Agro Aversano'', producing wine and cheese (famous for the typical dome ...

as a county to Ranulf. The following are the Counts of Aversa: * Rainulf I 1030–1045 After Rainulf I died in June 1045, a succession crisis developed. Rainulf's nephew, Asclettin, succeeded him, but died with a matter of months. At that time in late 1045 / early 1046, Guaimar IV, the Prince of Salerno and suzerain of Aversa, attempted to appoint Rodulf Cappello the Count of Aversa. With the assistance of Pandulf IV of Capua, however, Rainulf Trincanocte made his way to Aversa, built local support, and was duly elected as the Count of Aversa replacing the temporary appointment of Rodulf. * Asclettin II 1045 (nephew of Rainulf I) *Rodulf Cappello late 1045 / early 1046 (appointee of Guaimar IV) * Rainulf II Trincanocte late 1045 / early 1046 –1048 (cousin of Asclettin) * Herman 1048–1049 (son of Rainulf Trincanocte) Herman was an infant when he succeeded his father and required a regent. The first regent appointment, Bellebouche, was a failure. Richard Drengot, a cousin of Herman's, was then in a Melfitan prison for making war on Drogo. Guaimar IV procured Richard's release and personally brought him to Aversa, where he was installed as regent. Later Richard would succeed his cousin and serve as the Count in his own right. *

Richard I Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199), known as Richard the Lionheart or Richard Cœur de Lion () because of his reputation as a great military leader and warrior, was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ru ...

1049–1078 (son of Asclettin II) In 1058, Richard conquered the

Principality of Capua The Principality of Capua ( or ''Capue'', Modern ) was a Lombards, Lombard state centred on Capua in Southern Italy. Towards the end of the 10th century the Principality reached its apogee, occupying most of the Terra di Lavoro area. It was ori ...

and thereafter the counts of Aversa were, more importantly,

princes of Capua This is a list of the rulers of the Principality of Capua. Lombard rulers of Capua Gastalds and counts The gastalds (or counts) of Capua were vassals of the princes of Benevento until the early 840s, when Gastald Landulf began to clamour for the i ...

Citations

References

* {{refend *