Drogo of Hauteville

Drogo of Hauteville (died 10 August 1051) was the second Norman Count of Apulia. He led the Normans of Southern Italy after the death of his brother, William Iron Arm.

Life Drogo was a son of Tancred of Hauteville by his first wife Muriella. Goffredo Malaterra records him as being the second son, after William Iron Arm, while Romuald Guarna records him as being the third, coming after Serlo and Geoffrey. Regardless, it is unlikely anyway that Drogo was older than Serlo, as Serlo stayed in Normandy to inherit their father's possessions, while Drogo journeyed to Southern Italy.

First years in Southern Italy

Around 1035/7, Drogo journeyed to Southern Italy with his brothers William Iron Arm and Humphrey, to strengthen the ranks of Rainulf Drengot, Count of Aversa, the first Norman mercenary lord who had been granted a fief. Together with Rainulf, the Hauteville brothers took part in a military operation led by Guaimar IV of Salerno against Pandulf IV, Prince of Capua.

Death and succession

Towards the end of his reign, Drogo met with Pope Leo IX, when he came to Southern Italy to restore the Libertas Ecclesiae under Henry III's directives. However, as he was returning from the meeting with the Pope, he was assassinated along with several of his followers on Saint Lawrence's Day (10 August) of 1051, while he was entering the chapel of his castle at Monte Ilario, near Bovino, to attend mass. Goffredo Malaterra records that he was killed by a Lombard man of his entourage. Drogo was possibly the victim of an anti-Norman conspiracy led by Argyrus, the Byzantine catepan of Italy, who was trying to reclaim the region for the Byzantine Empire. Drogo was buried at the Abbey of Santissima Trinità of Venosa.

He was succeeded by his brother Humphrey.

Issue

Drogo's first wife was named Altrude. With her, he had three children:

Richard of Hauteville Rocca Eremburga

Drogo's second wife was Gaitelgrima, daughter of Guaimar IV of Salerno (not the same as this Gaitelgrima, who was princess of Capua). No children result from this marriage.