 In 988 the Saracens descended upon Bari, depopulated the countryside and took men and women to Sicily as captives.In 991 Count Atto fought against the Saracens at Taranto, where he and many men of Bari fell.In 1002 Bari was besieged from 2 May until October, when they were rescued by Pietro Orseolo (II), the Doge of Venice.