William the Iron Arm leads Normans in Italy

1041

Hauteville brothers from a modest Norman fief began carving out territory in Apulia, first as mercenaries for Lombard rebels against Byzantium, then as conquerors in their own right. Within forty years their younger brothers would hold all of southern Italy and Sicily under Norman rule. William earned his sobriquet in single combat against a Muslim emir, a feat that made him the undisputed leader of the Norman adventurers.