Jordan II of Capua
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2008-01-30T10:31:01Z
Charles Matthews
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'''Jordan II''' ([[Italian language|Italian]]: ''Giordano'') (c. 1080 – [[19 December]] [[1127]]), third-born son of [[Jordan I of Capua]] and [[Gaitelgrima, daughter of Guaimar IV|Gaitelgrima]], was the second to last [[count of Aversa]] and [[prince of Capua]] from [[10 June]] [[1120]] to his death. By his time, the once-great [[principality of Capua]], which had served as a counterpoise to the power of the [[Hauteville (family)|Hauteville]] duchy of [[Apulia]], was a small state with little influence or power and, technically at least, a vassal of Apulia, though he did homage to [[Pope Callistus II]] in the year of his accession.
He was the youngest of three brothers and so did not expect to inherit. He fought with the troops of his great uncle [[Roger I of Sicily]] and became a vassal of his cousin [[Roger Borsa]], duke of Apulia, holding the lordship of [[Nocera Inferiore|Nocera]], whereat was built the great castle so important to his son's later fortunes. However, when his elder brother died in 1120, leaving only an infant son, [[Richard III of Capua|Richard III]], who died within a few months under Jordan's [[Regent|regency]], he was the only candidate. Contemporary records do not record any details about this Richard's death, though the fact that Jordan stood much to gain and had the means to dispose of his nephew has not been missed by modern historians. He was anointed prince on [[4 July]]. His reign was uneventful, however. He spent much endowing monasteries within his domains. He gave the chapel of S. Fede to the cathedral of Aversa and the castle of Pico to the great [[Montecassino]]. He also gave liberally to the [[bishop of Pozzuoli]] and is the last prince recorded in the Cassinese [[necrology]]. He left a son of ill-repute, [[Robert II of Capua|Robert]], who would lose the principality to the Hautevilles permanently, to succeed him.
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==References==
*Caravale, Mario (ed). ''Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani''. [[Rome]], [[2003]].
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{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Richard III of Capua|Richard III]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Aversa|Count of Aversa]]|years=1120–[[1127]]}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Robert II of Capua|Robert II]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Prince of Capua]]|years=1120–[[1127]]}}
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{{end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jordan 2}}
[[Category:Normans]]
[[Category:1127 deaths]]
[[Category:Counts of Aversa]]
[[Category:Princes of Capua]]
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[[uk:Йордан II (князь Капуанський)]]