Southern Italy and the Eastern and Western empires,<i>c</i>.900–1050
Graham A. Loud
The Byzantine Empire ruled parts of southern Italy throughout the early Middle Ages, but this region was usually, and inevitably, quite low on imperial government's scale priorities. This situation changed during mid-tenth century, one factor causing arrival in Ottonian rulers Germany (emperors after 962), who posed both an ideological a military threat to rule. Otto I his son were far more concerned than is often credited with Italy, made significant attempts invade provinces. However, while subsequently Western interest never disappeared, became much less important for German emperors eleventh century. Thus if anything secure eve Norman south it had been previously.
Journal of Medieval History