The Life and Death of King Bohemond II
The Disease
Bohemond II de Hauteville was 34 years old when he finally inherited his Kingdom. As a Prince, he was never given his own lands to rule. Rather, he was always close to his father, learning the ropes of being a King. He had seen the city of Tyrus, spilled his blood for the Holy Land, claimed the walls of Jerusalem. Not to mention numerous battles and sieges in Africa, fighting with Germans in Italy and crushing occasional rebellion in homelands. In a time when people hardly saw more then their own village, he had travelled the world. Mostly carrying a sword and a pike and leaving line of corpses behind, but still, he’d seen more of the world then most of others, sometimes even learning something in the process.
But some things he didn’t learn. Like camping is never good. When marching with troops in Southern Italy in June 1161, Bohemond thought of nothing sleeping on the ground with his troops instead of staying in the tent. Even the light rain that fell that night didn’t matter to him- until he got a coughing fever. A disease that did not give in for the rest of the life. Most nights, he’d wake up coughing, with light fever. On worse nights, the fever was higher and he ended coughing up blood.
The beginning of an end
The Marriage
In October 1161, Bohemond, son of Bohemond and the future King of Sicily became 16. He was mostly raised by his grandfather, Asclettin. Only after his death, his father took over- but the result is obvious. Bohemond the Younger is a fine example of de Hauteville breeding. Especially good at administration, but also an able diplomat and warrior. Brave, honest and greedy as hell- plus a bit on a lustful side.
He was married to Petronella Branas, a minor noble from Byzantine Empire. No princesses, no fancy claims, but the lass herself was brilliant. De Hautevilles have never cared much of a titles, rather marrying good courtiers then bad titles.
The young Bohemond and his lovely bride
War with the Holy Roman Empire
The battle of Pavia, where Asclettin died, took place in April 1161. With that, the conflicts for that year ended. Asclettin had defeated 3 Germans armies each a bit over 10 000 men. Most of them were killed, but the rest of the Germans were scattered and the survivors fled over Alps.
Germans, hoping for an easy victory, had a hard time coping. If was first time in a long while when someone was able to offer them any resistance- and even more from some Norman conquerors from back south. Kaiser Leopold was unable to muster more support from his vassals for his campaigns down south. No Germans were willing to send more armies when the last ones were so thoroughly crushed. It took Kaiser about a year before he could gather enough support to march south again.
Only after the new year, Germans gathered in North and started their march down south. Only 2 armies this time- in March 1162, Sicilians spotted them happily moving towards Sicilian holdings. This time, the more numerous army of 11 500 was marching towards Venice, while a smaller one, about 8 500 marching towards Capua. About 20 000 compared to over 35 000 that came down south last year. But Normans had lost a few good men as well, and the maximum army fielded was only 12 000. African troops were also sailed in, but Bohemond decided to send Sicily’s main army to fight 8500 Germans besieging Capua first- if was of utmost importance that Capua would remain in Sicilian hands, for it was forcing Empire to consider peace and it was harder for Kaiser Leopold to muster vassals for a province long lost.
In 24th May 1162, the Normans forced another German army to retreat. 7000 Germans were killed and 2500 Sicilians. Then, Bohemond made a mistake of chasing the survivors to Spoleto instead of regrouping with African forces and sailing to aid Venice. Still, what is done is done and in July, Normans reached Spoleto, beat Germans there and marched back.
The Battle of Capua
The Battle of Venice
It was only in August when Bohemond reached back to Palermo, met the reinforcements there and set sail to Venice. Total force of Sicily was 12 500 men against 10 000 Germans. It was the most minor advantage Sicily has had in this war- but it ought to be enough. If things go like they normally do, it would be the last army Sicily had to fight this summer.
Arriving in early September, the fleet first saw smoke on horizon- and then fire. It was obvious that the city is on fire. Usually that meant that the city was conquered and enemy was happily pillaging it- and this was the case here as well. Just a few days before arrival, Germans had found a traitor who had opened one of the city gates and let the Germans pour in.
In some ways, it was good. Looting the city is hard work, accompanied by lot of booze. So when relief army arrives, there is a good chance that at last some Germans are too drunk and tired to put up a good fight.
Of course, things will not go without troubles. The landscape in Venice- water, marshes and all that- makes it hard to use main Norman weapon, the charging knight. Even though Bohemond’s troops landed safely and set up a battle line, the wetlands seriously hindered the usability of cavalry.
Germans gathered outside the city walls, forming a defensive line. They knew how to fight and they knew Normans would show no mercy- so despite the hangover and in some occasions, being caught with their pants down, they were desperate men. And desperate men fight with ferocity.
So when Norman archers released their volleys and heavy infantry charged, they held their line, they fought back, they tried their best to kill and not be killed. In the end, they had no chance and when the evening came, the survivors fled. Most started to retreat in the direction of mainland, but some fell back to the city and garrisoned them there, feeling that the walls of the city will offer a better protection then the open landscape decorated with Norman light infantry.
The field was littered with bodies- both Norman and German, but more Germans had lost their lives. Total 13 000 men were killed in that battle, and a bit over 5000 of them were Normans. The cost was heavy and this was the bloodiest battle in this war yet.
Bohemond ordered the corpses to be buried and survivors to rest for a few days. Then, they stormed the city of Venice and took it back. It was an easy task, for Germans defending it were a few in number and city-folk happily stabbed them in the back and even opened the gates of the city.
Then, after re-capturing, Bohemond march to Treviso, following the fleeing Germans. They reached the Germans in the end of October, but this time, they couldn’t finish them all. A bit over 300 Germans managed to run away and Bohemond let them- no point in chasing such a small army.
The toughest battle of the war
End of the War
This time, it was over. Kaiser Leopold could not force his vassals to march over the Alps anymore. The dangers of Sicily were clear to everyone and not a single German Duke wished to risk his life over something as small and trivial and far south as Capua.
Only in January, the troops belonging to Lord Mayor of Pisa marched through the Genoa, on their way to the province of Provence, where resides the Duke of Pisa. Pisa had lost their war of independence a few years back and after that, their Doge title was revoked and they had started a war to regain it. To their bad luck, they chose the wrong path. Bohemond gathered troops of Palermo and sailed over to Nice, where outside the city of Monaco, Pisan troops were utterly crushed.
At least in the future, rulers of Pisa know to steer clear of Sicilian lands
This was a final straw that broke the Kaiser’s back. His vassals refused to give him more troops to be sent to a slaughter and without any troops or resources, he had no chance but to let Capua fall in the hands of the rightful ruler. Peace with signed in 4th February 1163, with Leopold giving up the province of Capua.
And the war with Holy Roman Empire is a victorious one
The Death of Bohemond II
The end of the war was the end of Bohemond. He had held firm, for he wanted the the victory. With almost inhuman effort, he had held himself together, despite the fact that his fever was worsening with every day.
But when the war ended and there was no goal for him anymore, he gave up. Instead of celebrations, he laid in his bed. He gave Bohemond III guidelines on how to rule, gave gifts to his loyal friends and vassals, even more to the church. He confessed his sins and recieved absolution.
In his younger days, when Bohemond was fighting in Holy Land, he had taken a vow to join Hospitallers. Now was a good time, for there was not much left to live. In 5th February, he gave all his titles, his wealth, his royal regalia to Bohemond III and took the black cloak with a white cross. In the next day, having given up all his worldly possessions, he took his final journey, to the Kingdom of Heaven. He ruled a bit less then 2 years and though he was not a bad king, history will always remember him as Bohemond II the Short-Rule.
The end of poor Bohemond II