"Dopo questa vittoria, ottenuta grazie al coraggio di questi quaranta pellegrini normanni, il principe li ringraziò, offrì loro dei doni e una grande ricompensa, e chiese loro di rimanere. Quando non vollero restare, li invitò a incoraggiare altri Normanni a venire in questo Paese per le sue ricchezze. Inviò con i Normanni di ritorno nel loro paese messaggi, limoni, mandorle, dolci, nocciole, tessuti bizantini e ferramenta d'oro. Chiese loro di venire nella terra dove scorrono latte e miele e dove si trovano tutte queste cose delicate.”
Intorno all’anno mille, la penisola italiana era un mosaico frammentato di potenze politiche. Longobardi, Bizantini, Arabi, il Papato e il Sacro Romano Impero si contendevano potere e influenza sulla penisola. È in questo complicato retroscena politico che fecero la loro apparizione i pellegrini e i mercenari normanni. Vi giunsero attratti da luoghi di pellegrinaggio come Monte Sant'Angelo e la città di Gerusalemme, raggiungibili dai porti dell'Italia meridionale. In Normandia si parlava della necessità di mercenari e delle opportunità che si avevano in loco. Un gran numero di Normanni seguì questo appello.
Southern Italy, 11th/12th c.
Iron
Brescia, Fondazione Brescia Musei, Museo delle Armi „Luigi Marzoli“, Inv. MR 14800
Nasal helmets of this kind, which are also called „Normans helmets“, are very rare today. This helmet was acquired in Salerno and probably originated from a church in the area. This makes it the only known Norman helmet from southern Italy to this day. There are holes at the lower rim of helmet bell which were used to attach an inner lining.
11th/12th c.
Iron
Stuttgart, Landesmuseum Württemberg, Inv. AM 4354
Swords with a straight parry bar and a small semicircle pommel were often used by warriors in the Middle Ages. They were very valueable to their owner and accompanied them at all times. The former coating of the handle, the so-called „Hilze“, is no longer existing. It probably was made of wood and was covered with textile or leather.
Rouen, middle of the 11th–beginning of the 12th c.
Found at the Castle in Salerno
Silver
Salerno, Museo Medievale del Castello di Arechi, Inv. 21.S83–7.6
These coins were minted in Normandy but found in a vessel buried inside the castle of Salerno. They testify to the close connections between these two Norman territories and an ongoing migration to the South. It can be assumed that these coins arrivedin Italy in the luggage of mercenaries and found their way to the castle in the context of one of the many military undertakings.
Southern Italy, 12th c.
Stone
Monte Sant’Angelo, Santuario di San Michele Arcangelo, Musei Tecum – Museo Lapidario, Inv. 176
This stone plate was found in a cave in Monte Sant’Angelo and shows a knight armed with a long lance topped by a banner. The posture of the horse, the rectangular banner and the stretched leg of the knight indicate movement. A big drop-shaped shield and perhaps a Gambeson (defensive jacket) can be recognised.
Acceptus
Siponto, Church Santa Maria, 11th c.
Marble
Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Skulpturensammlung und Museum für Byzantinische Kunst, Inv. 6670
This marble beam was found together with other fragments in the sacristy of the church of S. Maria di Siponto. It belonged to the liturgical furniture and was probably part of a bishop’s throne. Creator of this work was the famous sculptor Acceptus who was active during the time when the first Normans arrived in Apulia. His works, to which the pulpits of Monte Sant’Angelo and Canosa belong, demonstrate the mastership of south Italian sculpture.
Inscription: Robert and Baldwin had this work made for Saint Michael out of love for God
Cava delle Pietre, 11th c.
Gilded copper
Monte Sant’Angelo, Santuario di San Michele Arcangelo, Musei Tecum – Museo Devozionale, no Inv.
Already around the year 1000 Normans came to Italy to visit the Monte Sant’Angelo. This sanctuary was linked to one of Normandy’s chief monasteries and pilgrim’s destinations: the Mont-Saint-Michel. Many pilgrims offered presents, so-called votive gifts for the archangel and left them inside the sanctuary. This icon, a depiction of the Archangel Michael, was donated by two men called „Robert“ and „Balduin“. These names originate from Normandy or Northern France, although the icon’s style points to a local production.
Monte Sant’Angelo, 11th–12th c.
Stone
Monte Sant’Angelo, Santuario di San Michele Arcangelo, Musei Tecum – Museo Lapidario, Inv. n. 148, n. 152
These engravings in the shape of footprints were left by pilgrims. Even over long distances, pilgrimage was mostly undertaken by foot. Many pilgrims travelled to the Monte Sant’Angelo, to see the archangel’s „foot print“ which was located in the centre of the sanctuary. As a sign of devotion and a reminder of their visit, they not only left gifts, but also graffiti.