Battle of Brindisi (1156)

The Battle of Brindisi (1156) was fought by the Byzantine Empire and the Norman Kingdom of Sicily over control of Southern Italy.

Battle of Brindisi (1156)
Part of Byzantine–Norman Wars
DateMay 1156
Result Norman victory
Byzantine Empire Kingdom of Sicily
Commanders and leaders
John Doukas
Robert of Loritello
Alexios Komnenos
William I

The battle was part of a Byzantine campaign orchestrated by the emperor Manuel I Komnenos to recover Apulia and Calabria for the Byzantine Empire by taking advantage of the chaotic political situation in Norman Sicily following the death of Roger II and the succession of the William 'the Bad'.[1] While the Byzantine forces managed to take control of numerous southern Italian cities, including Bari, the defeat at Brindisi, inflicted during a protracted Byzantine siege of the city, effectively put an end to the Byzantine attempt at reconquest.[2]

Following the defeat, the Byzantine diplomat John Axouch arrived at the Byzantine base of Ancona in order to negotiate a favorable treaty with William. He was incredibly successful, and his negotiations allowed Manuel to exit the war with honor, despite a series of large-scale, successful Norman raids of the Aegean coasts of Greece and the consolidation of Norman Sicily under William.[2]


  1. ^ Magdalino 2002, p. 58.
  2. ^ a b Magdalino 2002, p. 61.

