Michael Doukeianos

Who is Michael Doukeianos?

Michael III Doukeianos, called the Young, was the catepan of Italy from 1040 to 1041. He replaced Nikephoros Doukeianos. His first major act was to offer the rule of Melfi to the Greek-speaking Lombard Arduin with the title topoterites. However, Arduin soon betrayed him and led his Norman mercenaries in support of the Apulian rebellion of Argyrus. On March 16, 1041, near Venosa, on the Olivento, he met the Lombard-Norman army but was defeated.

This was followed by another battle at Montemaggiore, near Cannae, a field that had served as the site for the famous battle of 216 BC and the first Norman engagement in the Mezzogiorno in 1018. Though the catepan had called up a large Varangian force from Bari, the battle was a rout and many of Michael's soldiers drowned in the Ofanto on the retreat. Doukeianos was transferred to Sicily, which the Normans had just prior abandoned during the expedition of George Maniakes. He was replaced by Exaugustus Boioannes after September 1041.