Manuel sends a fleet to attack Ancona …

Years: 1155 - 1155

Manuel sends a fleet to attack Ancona in 1155, capturing much of the region of Apulia, but it is too late for a revival of Greek imperialism in the West; under William’s command, a joint opposition force of Germans, Venetians, and Normans gathers to oppose the invasion.

Making contact with local rebels who were hostile to the Sicilian crown, imperial forces quickly overrun the coastlands and began striking inland.

Pope Adrian IV watches these developments with some satisfaction.

The Papacy has never been on good terms with the Normans of Sicily, except when under duress by the threat of direct military action.

Having the "civilized" Eastern Roman Empire on its southern border is infinitely preferable to Adrian than having to constantly deal with the troublesome Normans.

Therefore, negotiations are hurriedly carried out, and an alliance is formed between Adrian and Manuel.

Adrian undertakes to raise a body of mercenary troops from Campania.

Meanwhile, Manuel dreams of restoration of the Roman Empire; this is, however, at the cost of a potential union between the Orthodox and the Catholic Church.

Negotiations for union of the eastern and western churches, which had been in a state of schism since 1054, soon get underway.

The combined Papal-Imperial forces join with the rebels against the Normans in southern Italy, achieving a string of rapid successes as a number of cities yield either to the threat of force or to the lure of gold.

The future looks bleak for the Sicilians.

Locations
People
Groups
Topics
Commodoties
Subjects
Regions
Southwest Europe (1155 - 1155)
Subregions
Mediterranean Southwest Europe (1155 - 1155)

Related Events

Filter results
Showing 10 events out of 48621 total