Byzantine Battles: Battle of Olivento

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Battle of Olivento	year: 1041 17 March 1041
A Norman/Lombard success against the Byzantines of South Italy	★ ★ ★ ★ ★

enemy: Normans, Lombards	location: At the feet of the Monte Vulture, near the Olivento river (tributary of Ofanto), in Apulia, southern Italy	accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type: Pitched Battle	war: Norman Conquest of Southern Italy	modern country: Italy

	▼ The Byzantines(emperor: Michael IV the Paphlagonian)	▼ The Enemies
Commander:	Catepan Michael Dokeianos	Arduino, Guillaume d’Hauteville
Forces:	Unknown	700 cavalry, 500 infantry
Losses:

Background story:

Arduino, a Greek-speaking Lombard was one of the leaders of the “Franks” –as the Greeks called all westerners– that had fought for the Byzantines in Sicily, during the campaign of George Maniakes. Apparently the booty from Sicily was not distributed fairly and Arduino went to see the general asking for a better share for his soldiers. His behavior was insulting towards the Greeks and the Byzantine leader, Maniakes had him flogged. The beating of Arduino played a role in a rebellion in coalition with the Normans Rainulf Drengot and the Hauteville brothers, the Lombard prince of Benevento and Argyros of Bari.
The Byzantine catepan of Italy, Michael Doukeianos, moved from Bari with the few troops he could muster, including some Varangians, troops from the Opsikion tagma and several Thracians. He was able to defeat the first rebel troops he met, and he pursued them at Ascoli Satriano. Here he was met by an army of 700 horsemen and 500 infantry.

The Battle:

Norman mercenary

The clash took place at the feet of the Monte Vulture, near the Olivento river, west of the town Venosa. The chiefs of the rebels wer Arduino (of Lombards) and William d’ Hauteville (of Normans). The rest of the nobles and powerful figures who supported the movement preferred not to reveal their opposition to Byzantium yet.
The rebels had deployed the cavalry in the center, with the infantry on the wings. The Byzantines launched several waves of attacks against the rebels' cavalry. However, the Normans resisted and counter-attacked, defeating the Byzantines with a decisive cavalry charge. The Greek troops fled. The catepan himself was barely able to escape alive.

Noteworthy:

Byzantine historians have the worst opinion about Michael Dokeianos. They report that because of his misbehavior, arrogance and cruelty, the allies Normans and Lombards were alienated and the uprising escalated. In fact, they attribute to him and not to Maniakes the order for the flogging of Arduin.
It is possible indeed that Dokeianos may have had a share of the responsibility, but the events began before his arrival.

Aftermath:

It was the first of the numerous successes scored by the Normans in their conquest of southern Italy. After the battle, they conquered Ascoli, Venosa, Gravina di Puglia. It was followed by other Norman/Lombard victories over the Byzantines.

Byzantine Battles

Battle of Olivento

1041