Wednesday 6 August 2014

Roger

This is history but I read it in a science fiction novel, The Shield Of Time by Poul Anderson.

In 1136, Holy Roman Emperor Lothair crossed the Alps to help Pope Innocent II against Roger II, King of Capua, Apulia and Siciliy. Emperor and Pope were allied to Count Rainulf of Avellino, Roger's brother-in-law.

After fighting throughout Italy, Rainulf was made Duke of Apulia in 1137. Lothair left him reinforcements, then started back home, and Innocent entered Rome despite the presence of anti-Pope Anacletus II. Roger returned from Sicily, landing at Salerno, and devastated his former lands but Rainulf defeated him at Rignano in northern Apulia and he retreated to Salerno.

Despite his heavy losses at Rignano, Roger rallied other forces, besieging Naples and regaining Benevento and Monte Casino so that soon only Apulia remained to Duke Rainulf. Innocent had to agree to Roger mediating the dispute with Anacletus but Lothair died before the proposed conference and Anacletus also died early in 1138. Roger's next anti-Pope soon resigned and Innocent tried to destroy the already excommunicated Roger. However, Rainulf died in 1139, then Roger ambushed the papal army and captured Innocent.

This is what is supposed to happen but the Time Patrol must cope with Roger's unexpected death at Rignano.

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