Sergius I (Duke of Naples)

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Sergius was the Duke of Cum , dependent on Naples. In 840, at the time of the siege of Naples by the Franks , the Neapolitans elected Sergius as their duke. Having occupied the throne without the consent of Constantinople , Sergius broke with Byzantium and entered into an alliance with the Arabs of Palermo . He helped the Arabs to expel the Byzantines from Bari ( 841 ) and Messina ( 842 ).

The Arabs turned out to be dangerous allies, and soon Sergius entered into an alliance with Amalfi , Gaeta and Sorrento . The united cities started the war with the Arabs, in 846 defeating them in the battles of Lycos and Gaet . The fleets of Naples and Gaeta, together with the papal, participated in the battle of Ostia ( 849 ) and defeated the Arabs.

In defiance of the Byzantines, Sergius maintained friendly relations with the Western emperors Lothar I and Louis II . So, on behalf of Lothar I, Sergius, together with the Duke of Spoleto Guido I, was the mediator in signing the peace treaty between the princes Siconulf Salerno and Radelhiz I Benevento . In 850, Sergius, with the consent of Lothar I, proclaimed his son Gregory III his co-ruler. So the power of the dukes in Naples became hereditary.

In 859, Sergius I began a war with Capua . The sons of Sergius Gregory and Caesar, together with his son-in-law Landulf, besieged New Capua, but to no avail. In 864, Sergius I died, leaving the heir to the son of Gregory III. Two more sons of Sergius chose the spiritual path - Saint Athanasius I was the bishop of Naples , and Stephen the .

Children

• Gregory III (died in 870) - Duke of Naples in 864 - 870 years ;
• Caesar of Naples ;
• Athanasius I - saint, bishop of Naples in 850-872 ;
• Stephen is Bishop of Sorrento.