Prince Bohemond I of Antioch 1054-1111

History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. At this time Robert Guiscard¹, a Norman by birth and Duke of Apulia, died. He had abandoned his first wife on account of kinship, by whom he had a son named Bohemond, and then, with the support of Gisulf (the brother of the maiden), he married Sichelgaita, the eldest daughter of Guaimar, Prince of Salerno, who had succeeded their father. Their younger sister, Gaitelgrima, was married to Jordan, Prince of Capua, son of Richard the Elder and father of Richard the Younger. It was the latter who founded the city called Aversa. From Sichelgaita, Robert Guiscard had three sons and five daughters. These daughters were married with such distinction that one of them became the wife of the Emperor of Constantinople.

Hac tempestate mortuus est Robertus Wiscardus, Northmannigena, dux Apuliæ. Hic, relicta priore uxore propter consanguinitatem, de qua susceperat filium nomine Boamundum, duxit primogenitam filiam Gaumarii principis Salerni, nomine Sichelgaitam, favente Gisulfo, fratre prædictæ puellæ, qui Gaumario patri successerat. Gatteclima [Gatteclinia] vero soror ejus minor nupsit Jordani principi Capuæ, filio Richardi senioris, patri vero Richardi junioris. Hujus condidit urbem nomine Aversam. Genuit autem Robertus Wiscardus ex Sichelgaita filios tres et filias quinque. Filiæ vero adeo excellentissime maritatæ sunt, ut una earum matrimonio copulata sit imperatori Constantinopolitano.

Note 1. Robert Guiscard [aged 70] died on 17th July 1085. His first wife was Alberada of Buonalbergo [aged 50], who was mother to Prince Bohemond I of Antioch [aged 31]. His second wife Sikelgaita [aged 45], sister of Prince Gisulf II of Salerno.

The Alexiad by Anna Comnena, Book 1, Chapter 10: "This Robert was Norman by descent, of insignificant origin in temper tyrannical, in mind most cunning, brave in action, very clever in attacking the wealth and substance of magnates, most obstinate in achievement, for he did not allow any obstacle to prevent his executing his desire. 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 where nature required breadth, and was neatly and gracefully formed where less width was necessary. So from tip to toe this man was well-proportioned, as I have repeatedly heard many say. Now, Homer says of Achilles that when he shouted, his voice gave his hearers the impression of a multitude in an uproar, but this man's cry is is said to have put thousands to flight. Thus equipped by fortune, physique and character, he was naturally indomitable, and subordinate to nobody in the world. Powerful natures are ever like this, people say, even though they be of somewhat obscure descent."

The Alexiad by Anna Comnena, Book 6, Chapter 6: "Robert was overcome with fear on hearing this for by connecting Ather and the town of Jerusalem he understood that his death was imminent. For many years before some soothsayers had prophesied to him the kind of thing flatterers are wont to tell princes, As far as Ather you shall bring all countries under your sway, but from there you shall depart for Jerusalem and pay your debt to nature." Whether the fever killed him or whether he died of pleurisy, I have no means of saying for certain. At all events he died in six days. His wife Gaïta reached him just in time to see him die and his son weeping over him.