Sikelgaita

Sikelgaita (also Sichelgaita, Sigelgaita, or Gaita) (c. 1040 – 16 April 1090) was a Lombard princess, the daughter of Prince Guaimar IV of Salerno and second wife of Duke Robert Guiscard of Apulia. Her heritage made her a vital asset to Robert's governance in Southern Italy, legitimizing his reign and that of his successors. Sikelgaita frequently accompanied Robert on campaigns and is noted for leading troops in battle. She continued to be a significant source of support for her primary heir, Roger Borsa, and remained actively involved in politics until her death.

==Background and early life== Sikelgaita was born in 1040 to Prince Guaimar IV of Salerno and his wife Gemma. Little is known of her earlier life or upbringing but she grew up with many siblings. According to historian David Balfour, there is no reason to suspect that she received any military or other extraordinary education. Her father had a successful career expanding the borders of the principality of Salerno over large territories in Southern Italy, including many important cities, still to peak when she was born. This was brought to an abrupt end when he and his brother were murdered by Sikelgaita's four maternal uncles when she was still young in 1052. Guaimar's Norman allies avenged him at the behest of his surviving brother Guy, declaring Sikelgaita's brother Gisulf II the new prince of Salerno. One of her sisters, Gaitelgrima, had earlier married Robert's half-brother Drogo, and another Gaitelgrima later married Robert's nephew Jordan I of Capua.