Family Power in Southern Italy

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The book delves into the interplay of political power and family identity in the medieval duchies of Gaeta, Amalfi, and Naples, particularly in the context of the Norman conquest. It analyzes how noble families managed local authority and economic control, using charters from the Codex diplomaticus Cajetanus. The study highlights Gaeta's commercial growth in the twelfth century and its unique political interactions with northern Italian cities, ultimately challenging traditional perspectives on early medieval power dynamics by emphasizing the socio-economic foundations of authority.