Hauteville family

Tradition traces the family's origins to Hiallt, a 10th-century Viking who supposedly founded the village of Hialtus villa, from which the family's name originates. Hiallt, however, is probably just a legendary eponymous ancestor: the Latin form of Hauteville, Altavilla, simply means "high estate". ==Southern Italy==

William Iron Arm and Drogo were the first of Tancred's sons to arrive in Southern Italy, sometime around 1035. They distinguished themselves in a rebellion against the Byzantines, and in 1042 William Iron Arm was named the first Count of Apulia. In 1046 he was succeeded by Drogo, whose titles were confirmed by Emperor Henry III. Drogo was succeeded by another brother, Humphrey, who in 1053 defeated Pope Leo IX in the Battle of Civitate, strengthening the Hautevilles’ power. Kingdom of Sicily After unifying all of the Hauteville family's domains, Roger II supported Antipope Anacletus II, and on Christmas of 1130, Roger was made King of Sicily. Roger spent the majority of his first decade of reign fending off invaders and suppressing rebellions. In 1139, with the Treaty of Mignano, his kingship was recognized by the legitimate Pope, Innocent II. Through the actions of his admiral George of Antioch, Roger also proceeded to conquer the Mahdia, taking the unofficial title of “King of Africa”. Roger's son and successor was William I the Bad. His nickname derives primarily from his lack of popularity among the chroniclers, who supported the baronial revolts that William crushed. In 1166 he was succeeded by his son William II the Good, who was still a minor. During his regency, that lasted until 1189, the realm was subject to turmoils, which almost broke it apart. Eventually peace won, and William II's reign is remembered as peaceful and prosperous. William II died without heirs in 1189, and there was a succession dispute. William's only legitimate heir was his aunt Constance, but she had married Emperor Henry VI, and Sicilian officials didn't want a German ruler. An illegitimate cousin of William, Tancred of Lecce, seized the throne. He initially had to fight against a revolt of Roger of Andria, a former contender. In 1190 he managed to kill him, and in 1191 he was able to repel an invasion of Constance and Henry VI. After he died in 1194, however, the kingdom passed to Constance anyway, and was afterwards ruled by the Hohenstaufen. Constance and Henry's son and successor was Emperor Frederick II. ==Crusades==

The eldest son of Robert Guiscard, Bohemond, didn't inherit the majority of his father possessions because he wasn't considered legitimate, as his parents’ marriage was annulled for consanguinity. He thus had to find land elsewhere. In 1097 he joined a band of Crusaders, on their way to the first Crusade, along with his nephew, Tancred of Galilee. Bohemond took the city of Antioch, and remained there for the duration of the Crusade, carving out the independent Principality of Antioch for himself. He was succeeded by his son Bohemond II, who in turn was succeeded by his daughter Constance, who ruled the principality until 1163. Bohemond's nephew, Tancred, also had luck in carving the Principality of Galilee, a vassal fief of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. ==Cadet branches==

Different Italian noble families are scions of the House of Hauteville. Among these, there are the , the , and the . ==Genealogy==

Here follows the family tree of the main branch of the Hauteville family: | }} ⚭ Odo the Good Marquis → (issue)| }} ==Notes==