Strenuitas. The Life and Times of Robert Guiscard and Bohemond of Taranto: Norman Power from the Mezzogiorno to Antioch 1016 – 1111 A.D. Paperback – January 14, 2023

I bought Strenuitas after reading Stephen Runciman’s three volume history of the Crusades. Apart from a good historical read during a holiday in southern Italy, I wanted to learn more about the Normans in Sicily and in particular Bohemond of Antioch, one of the outstanding figures of The First Crusade.On both counts Chaplin delivers the goods. Strenuitas starts with background on how the Normans came to be in Southern Italy, and details the increasing role they played in 11th century Italian politics. This culminates in one of the major characters of the period, Robert Guiscard. The book details Guiscard’s rise to power and the tumultuous politics – not to mention ruthless leaders - of famous cities such as Capua, Salerno, Bari, Taranto, and Palermo. The lengthy low-intensity war to take Sicily from the Saracens is richly detailed.Strenuitas provides broader context through references to the ever changing fortunes of the two superpowers of the time, The Holy Roman and Byzantine Empires. Similar to how the United States and Russia intrigued in the Third World during the Cold War, both medieval powers played lively, sometimes pivotal, roles in Guiscard’s Italy.The various Popes and anti-Popes of that time also come into play. Sometimes the Pope had the upper hand over Italy’s fractious Normans, but often Rome was subject to the will of Guiscard.Upon Guiscard’s death, the focus shifts to his son, Bohemond, and traces the vicissitudes of his career. Strenuitas follows Bohemond from his first abortive war against the Byzantine army in modern day Albania, and then along the long march through Anatolia. Chaplin’s narrative about the crusaders’ two-year siege of Antioch, and Bohemond’s ultimate ascendancy over that exotic city, is probably the best part of the book. Strenuitas goes on to recount Bohemond’s fall from grace, culminating in his second attempt to attack the Byzantine Empire in Albania.Strenuitas is well researched and, perhaps more importantly, an enjoyable read. It is an excellent companion volume to Runciman’s History of the Crusades, and the latter volumes in Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,

I've been retired for 3 years now, and started working more on my genealogy. I wanted to learn more about Robert Guiscard d'Hauteville, who is my 29th great-grandfather. I also wanted to learn about the Rogerian 'Golden Age' of Sicily, and the part the Hautevilles played in it, specifically, that of Robert Guiscard's brother Roger d'Hauteville, my 30th great-uncle.

Absolutely spectacular! Mr. Chaplin brings to life one of the most fascinating yet little-known periods in history. I would give it 10 stars if I could.

More in depth review coming soon. 5 starts is based on what I know of the authors knowledge of European history and his ability to piece events together to explain not only what events occurred, but why.

very well written