Michael Doukeianos
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Michael III Doukeianos (Greek: Μιχαήλ Δουκειανός; Dulchiano in Italian), called the Young, was the catepan of Italy from 1040 to 1041. He replaced Nikephoros Doukeianos.
His first major act was to offer the rule of Melfi to the Greek-speaking Lombard Arduin with the title topoterites. However, Arduin soon betrayed him and led his Norman mercenaries in support of the Apulian rebellion of Argyrus. On 16 March 1041, near Venosa, on the Olivento, he met the Norman army and tried to negotiate. He failed and battle was joined at Montemaggiore, near Cannae, a field that had served as the site for the famous battle of 216 BC and the first Norman engagement in the Mezzogiorno in 1018. Though the catepan had called up a large Varangian force from Bari, the battle was a rout and many of Michael's soldiers drowned in the Ofanto on the retreat. The unfortunate Doukeianos was transferred to Sicily, which the Normans had just prior abandoned during the expedition of George Maniakes.
He was replaced by Exaugustus Boioannes after September 1041.
[edit] Source
- Chalandon, Ferdinand. Histoire de la domination normande en Italie et en Sicilie. Paris, 1907.
- Norwich, John Julius. The Normans in the South 1016-1130. Longmans: London, 1967.
| Preceded by Nikephoros Doukeianos |
Catepan of Italy 1040–1041 |
Succeeded by Exaugustus Boioannes |
