County of Apulia and Calabria

County of Apulia and Calabria
Comitatus Apuliae et Calabriae (Latin)
Duchy of Apulia and Calabria
Ducatus Apuliae et Calabriae
1043–1130
Motto: Servire Nescit (Latin)
The Duchy (in green) in the political context of Italy and the Balkans in 1084.
The Duchy (in green) in the political context of Italy and the Balkans in 1084.
StatusVassal state of the Papacy
CapitalMelfi (1043–1077)
Salerno (1077–1130)
Common languages
Religion
Roman Catholicism
Greek Orthodoxy
Demonym(s)Normans (generally), Lombards, Apulians, Calabrians
GovernmentFeudal monarchy
Count/Duke 
• 1043–1046
William I
• 1059–1085
Robert I
• 1085–1111
Roger Borsa
• 1111–1127
William II
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Lombard lords elect William of Hauteville as Count
1043
• Emperor Henry III recognizes the County
1047
• Battle of Civitate; Pope Leo IX recognizes the County
1053
• Treaty of Melfi; the County becomes a Duchy
1059
1076
• Death of the childless William II
1127
• Coronation of Roger; Duchy annexed to Sicily
1130
CurrencyFollis (common)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Catepanate of Italy
Principality of Salerno
Duchy of Benevento
Emirate of Sicily
Kingdom of Sicily
Principality of Taranto
Today part ofItaly

The County of Apulia and Calabria (Latin: Comitatus Apuliae et Calabriae), later the Duchy of Apulia and Calabria (Latin: Ducatus Apuliae et Calabriae), was a Norman state founded by William of Hauteville in 1043, composed of the territories of Gargano, Capitanata, Apulia, Vulture, and most of Campania. It became a duchy when Robert Guiscard was raised to the rank of duke by Pope Nicholas II in 1059.

The duchy was disestablished in 1130, when the last duke of Apulia and Calabria, Roger II, became King of Sicily. The title of duke was thereafter used intermittently as a title for the heir apparent to the Kingdom of Sicily.