What is Principality of Capua?
[[File:Italy 1000 AD.svg|300px|thumb|A map of Italy, showing the Principality of Capua, as it appeared in 1000 [[Common Era|CE]].]] The '''Principality of Capua''' ({{lang-la|Principatus Capuae}} or ''{{lang|la|Capue}}'', {{lang-it|Principato di Capua}}) was a [[state]] in the south of the [[Italian Peninsula]]. It existed from the 9th century to the 11th century. For most of its history, it was [[Independence|independent]] in practice, but officially under the [[suzerainty]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire|Western]] and [[Eastern Roman Empire]]s. Capua was originally a [[gastald]]ate within the [[Principality of Benevento]], and then a [[county]] within the [[Principality of Salerno]]. The rulers of Capua were [[Lombards]] until 1058, when it was conquered by [[Normans]]. ==Origins== Old Capua was an ancient [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] city. It was the one of the most important cities in southern Italy during the [[Roman Empire]]. When the Lombards invaded Italy in the second half of the 6th century, Capua was [[wikt:sack#Verb|sacked]]. Later, it was made a part of the [[Duchy of Benevento]], and ruled by a Lombard official with the title of ''gastald''. Little is known of this part of its history. {{multiple image | align = left | direction = vertical | header = | width = 200 | image1 = Duchy of Benevento It.svg | caption1 = The Lombard Duchy of Benevento in the 8th century. | image2 = Southern Italy' States Ninth century.svg | caption2 = The division of territory into the Principalities of Benevento and Salerno. }} Capua first became a state of its own under [[Landulf I of Capua|Landulf I]]. In 839, the duke of Benevento, [[Sicard of Benevento|Sicard]], was killed by [[Radelchis I of Benevento|Radelchis]], who took the throne for himself. This caused a [[civil war]] that divided the country. Sicard's brother [[Siconulf of Salerno|Siconulf]] declared [[Salerno]] independent and himself prince of Salerno. Landulf and his sons had also been allies to Sicard, so the gastald declar