The  southern  provinces  of  Italy,  in  the  beginning  of  the
eleventh  century,  were  chiefly  subject  to  the  Greek  empire,
which  had  latterly  recovered  part  of  its  losses,  and  exhibited
some  ambition  and  enterprise,  though  without  any
intrinsic  vigor.  They  were  governed  by  a  lieu-
tenant,  styled  Catapan,1  who  resided  at  Bari  in  °f  southern
Apulia.  On  the  Mediterranean  coast  three  duchies,
or  rather  republics  of  Naples,  Gaeta,  and  Amalfi,  had  for
several  ages  preserved  their  connection  with  the  Greek  em-
pire, and  acknowledged  its  nominal  sovereignty.  The  Lom-
bard principalities  of  Benevento,  Salerno,  and  Capua  had
much  declined  from  their  ancient  splendor.  The  Greeks
were,  however,  not  likely  to  attempt  any  further  conquests  :
the  court  of  Constantinople  had  relapsed  into  its  usual  indo-
lence ;  nor  had  they  much  right  to  boast  of  successes  rather
due  to  the  Saracen  auxiliaries  whom  they  hired  from  Sicily.
No  momentous  revolution  apparently  threatened  the  south  of
Italy,  and  least  of  ah1  could  it  be  anticipated  from  what  quar-
ter the  storm  was  about  to  gather.
The  followers  of  Hollo,  who  rested  from  plunder  and  piracy
in  the  quiet  possession  of  Normandy,  became  de-
vout professors  of  the  Christian  faith,  and  particu-  ^"he"161
larly  addicted  to  the  custom  of  pilgrimage,  which  *ormiin* at

...     i    „,     .  .      .  Aversa.
gratilied  their  curiosity  and  spirit  of   adventure.
1  Catapanus.  from  Kara  7TUJ>,  one  employed  in  general  administration   of  af-
fairs.
350  ROBERT  GUISCARD.         CHAP.  III.  PART  I

In  small  bodies,  well  armed  on  account  of  the  lawless  charac-
ter of  the  countries  through  which  they  passed,  the  Norman
pilgrims  visited  the  shrines  of  Italy  and  even  the  Holy  Land.
