Argyrus (1000–1068)
Born 1000 CE, died 1068 CE.
Argyrus (or Argyros, Greek: Αργυρός; c. 1000–1068) was a Lombard nobleman and Byzantine general, son of the Lombard hero Melus. He was born in Bari. Upon the defeat of Melus, who had rebelled against the Byzantines, at the battle of Cannae in 1018, Argyrus and his mother were captured and taken to Constantinople as prisoners. He was out of confinement by 1038, when he returned to Apulia, then in an uproar over being pressed into service during the Byzantine invasion of Sicily. The Lombard troops returned with their Norman and Varangian comrades in 1039, alienated by General George Maniaches. In 1040, the Lombards of southern Italy revolted against their Greek overlords, with the support of Norman mercenaries, and slew the catepan Nikephoros Dokeianos. In March, the rebels scored a first victory, against the new catepan, Michael Dokeianos, near the Olivento. On 3 September 1041, they defeated another Byzantine catepan, Exaugustus, the son of Basil Boioannes, and took him captive. Soon they were joined by the Lombards and Normans of Melfi under Arduin.
Text from the Wikipedia article Argyrus_(catepan_of_Italy), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.