PRIEBEH VOJNY NORMANOV S BYZANCIOU V ROKOCH 1081-- 1085.

The beginning of reign of Byzantine emperor Alexius Comnenus (1081 -- 1118) is joint with the war against Norman soldiers. Commander of Normans was duke Robert Guiscard (1059 -- 1085), one of the most famous Norman warriors in the 11. century. Norman invasion on Balkan peninsula began with the siege of Dyrrhachion, the most important Byzantine fortress in the western Balkan. Emperor Alexius Comnenus tried to defeat Norman soldiers in the middle of October 1081, but his army was totally destroyed near Dyrrhachion. The next battle operations against emperor in Balkan peninsula led Bohemond, son of Robert Guiscard. The duke must went to Italy and fights against rebels in Apulia and then against German king Henry IV. Bohemond achieved some notable victories over Byzantine army in 1082, for example near city Ioannina in modern Greece. In autumn 1082 began Bohemond's invasion to Thessally and Normans occupied cities Kastoria and Trikkala. But siege of Larissa was unsuccessful for Normans and this was turnover in war. In autumn 1083 Normans must went back to Italy and in their hands were only Dyrrhachion in Albania and Island Corfu. The second invasion in Balkan peninsula led again by Robert Guiscard began in the late autumn of 1084 and was partly successful, because Normans defeated united Venetian-byzantine squadron near Island Corfu. But Norman army was decimated by disastrous epidemic, which broke out in their camp in the winter months of 1085. Bohemond was ill and had to go back to Salerno in Italy and illness was fatal for his father, Robert Guiscard. He died in 17th July 1085 in the Island Cephalonia. His death ended Norman's bid of conquest Balkan peninsula. Guiscard's son Roger Borsa went immediately to Italy and fought with Bohemond for his heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]