Bohemond

Bohemond, Prince of Antioch, and son of Robert Guiscard, was a celebrated warrior of the beginning of the 12th century (died 1111). Trained in arms by his father, and following him in his wars, he imbibed all his enmity for the Greeks and their Emperor Alexis. At Robert Guiscard's death, Bohemond declared war against his brother Roger, the heir, and forced him to give up the principality of Tarentum. He, with his relative Tancred, joined the crusade of Godfrey de Bouillon, and having failed to persuade the latter to make war upon Alexis, he managed to take Antioch and to be nominated prince of it, a title which remained in his family for 190 years. After a two years' imprisonment among the Saracens, he married Constance, daughter of Philippe of France, and by aid of the French king made war upon Alexis. At length the plague in his army forced him to make conditions, and Anna Comnena has left us her impressions of him as she saw him at a conference. She was greatly struck by his fine appearance, in which something terrible was mingled with a charming sweetness. He was meditating another war against Alexis when death overtook him.