Bari

Bari was the last major Byzantine stronghold in southern Italy. Robert Guiscard besieged and captured it in 1071, ending five centuries of East Roman rule in the peninsula. The port became a major embarkation point for crusaders.

Why it mattered

• Last Byzantine stronghold in Italy
• Crusader embarkation port
• Relics of St Nicholas

Chronology (selected)

• 1071: Robert Guiscard captures Bari from the Byzantines
• 1087: Relics of St Nicholas brought from Myra

Further reading

• G. A. Loud, "The Age of Robert Guiscard" (2000)

Hub essays

• Region context: hautevilles southern italy and the shared bibliography.
• Castles and fortification: Norman castles — motte to stone.

On the map

Use Open on map to fly to this pin in the Norman expansion era. Layers are teaching overlays — pair them with charters, excavation reports, and the works above.