Daily Quiz for May 18, 2008

Richard of Aversa. Richard of Aversa played an important role in the Norman conquest of southern Italy and became prince of Capua in 1059. Richard, a nephew of Rainulf of Aversa, came from Normandy in 1045 with 40 knights. He helped win the Battle of Civitae in 1053, inflicting a decisive defeat over the papal army, and seized Capua in 1057. In 1059, Richard and his brother-in-law, Robert Guiscard met with Pope Nicholas II, where the Norman chiefs swore allegiance to the Pope in return for papal recognition for their conquests whereupon Richard was invested as prince of Capua.