Fulco of Basacers
Encyclopedia
Fulco of Basacers was an Italo-Norman
knight and landholder with considerable possessions in the Val di Crati in Calabria
. The seat of his lordship was "Brahalla", a place or castle that no longer exists.
His first appearance in the historical record is in a Greek
charter of 1083, where he is named Βαλσωχερεζ (Balsocherez). His name in Latin charters commonly appears as Fulco de Basagerio, but the identification of Basagerio remains elusive. It could be Bazoches
in the Nivernais
, but more probably he was from Normandy
, perhaps Bazoches-au-Houlme
or Bazoches-sur-Hoëne
. He was powerful enough to mint copper coins (follari) of his own, bearing the inscription FVLCVI DE BASACERS beneath a cross on one side, and two outward-facing busts with a cross between them and the letters RVC on the other. The busts probably represent Fulco and his lord, Roger Borsa
, who is probably referenced by RVC. Some of Fulco's coins are overstruck on Salernitan
and Amalfitan
coins known to date from the 1090s. Probably these coins were minted with Roger's approval. It has been suggested that they were minted at Capua
as late as 1134, after Fulco is recorded in that vicinity with Roger II
, but such a late date is unlikely. Nor were the coins minted at Salerno, as once suggested.
Italo-Norman
The Italo-Normans, or Siculo-Normans when referring to Sicily, were the Italian-born descendants of the first Norman conquerors to travel to the southern Italy in the first half of the eleventh century...
knight and landholder with considerable possessions in the Val di Crati in Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
. The seat of his lordship was "Brahalla", a place or castle that no longer exists.
His first appearance in the historical record is in a Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
charter of 1083, where he is named Βαλσωχερεζ (Balsocherez). His name in Latin charters commonly appears as Fulco de Basagerio, but the identification of Basagerio remains elusive. It could be Bazoches
Bazoches
Bazoches is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-Notable people:* The Marquis de Vauban, Marshal of France and famous military engineer, bought the château de Bazoches in 1675.-References:* -Notes:...
in the Nivernais
Nivernais
Nivernais is former province of France, around the city of Nevers and the département of Nièvre.The raw climate and soils cause the area to be heavily wooded.- References :* Chamber's Encyclopedia Volume 10 page 50...
, but more probably he was from Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, perhaps Bazoches-au-Houlme
Bazoches-au-Houlme
Bazoches-au-Houlme is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.-References:*...
or Bazoches-sur-Hoëne
Bazoches-sur-Hoëne
Bazoches-sur-Hoëne is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.-References:*...
. He was powerful enough to mint copper coins (follari) of his own, bearing the inscription FVLCVI DE BASACERS beneath a cross on one side, and two outward-facing busts with a cross between them and the letters RVC on the other. The busts probably represent Fulco and his lord, Roger Borsa
Roger Borsa
Roger Borsa was the Norman Duke of Apulia and effective ruler of southern Italy from 1085 until his death. He was the son of Robert Guiscard, the conqueror of southern Italy and Sicily; Roger was not as adept as his father, and most of his reign was spent in feudal anarchy.-Biography:Roger was the...
, who is probably referenced by RVC. Some of Fulco's coins are overstruck on Salernitan
Principality of Salerno
The Lombard Principality of Salerno was a South Italian state, centered on the port city of Salerno, formed in 851 out of the Principality of Benevento after a decade-long civil war....
and Amalfitan
Duchy of Amalfi
The Duchy of Amalfi or the Republic of Amalfi was a de facto independent state centred on the Southern Italian city of Amalfi during the 10th and 11th centuries. The city and its territory were originally part of the larger ducatus Neapolitanus, governed by a patrician, but it extracted itself...
coins known to date from the 1090s. Probably these coins were minted with Roger's approval. It has been suggested that they were minted at Capua
Capua
Capua is a city and comune in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy, situated 25 km north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. Ancient Capua was situated where Santa Maria Capua Vetere is now...
as late as 1134, after Fulco is recorded in that vicinity with Roger II
Roger II of Sicily
Roger II was King of Sicily, son of Roger I of Sicily and successor to his brother Simon. He began his rule as Count of Sicily in 1105, later became Duke of Apulia and Calabria , then King of Sicily...
, but such a late date is unlikely. Nor were the coins minted at Salerno, as once suggested.