Henry knew two things: that Lombard rivalry, while troublesome, was less of a concern than that one of these magnates should rule over the rest, because they were not the kind to ever be content with what they held. Given power over the whole south they would next be at the Papal States and the imperial fiefs to the north. He also knew that whatever dispensations he made in this part of Italy must somehow hold once he had departed, which had to be soon. He could not afford to be away from Bamberg too long.
What he required was not continued turmoil but a balance of power that left everyone dependent upon imperial endorsement and one which would not drag him into conflict with his fellow emperor in Byzantium. The idea of forcing the inhabitants of Apulia to resubmit to Constantinople was an attractive one in terms of keeping the peace, but it was also impracticaclass="underline" his writ ran even less in that part of Italy.
Given the day had been taken up with ceremony, his decisions had been postponed till the morrow, which allowed for much intrigue as those who sought imperial favour attempted to bribe Henry’s officials. It also gave time for those who felt themselves in some way threatened to seek allies with which to fend off the emperor’s wrath. Guaimar definitely felt at risk: the good relationship he had enjoyed with the previous emperor had not been carried over; if anything, he suspected he was perceived as a disturber of the peace, so he sought the support of William de Hauteville, needing to speak quietly in a doorless antechamber.
‘We must stand strong in the face of the emperor.’
‘He is not yet my emperor, Prince Guaimar.’
‘I am his vassal, you are mine.’
‘Only when Henry confirms us both in our Apulian titles. If you are not Duke…’
The rest of that sentence had no need to be completed, and judging by the look on Guaimar’s face he thought what had just been said to be a real possibility. William was more sanguine about his own future, because he held the ground: not only Melfi and the country around, but Troia too, now that his fellow Normans had joined him. In numbers, his lances had risen to some fifteen hundred: he was powerful enough to fear no one. Certainly he desired his title to be confirmed but he was not prepared to give up any part of his recent gains to get it.
‘How much do you trust Rainulf, William?’
‘I think that question is more important to you than to me.’
‘Pandulf free is unsettling, and what is he doing here at this imperial gathering? He has fooled Henry and he could have Rainulf’s ear, as he has had in the past, and whatever he says will not be to the benefit of either you or I.’
Guaimar had not been the first one to visit him: Pandulf had that honour, seeking in near whispers to enlist William’s support against both Rainulf and Salerno, with much gold on offer if he agreed. Never one to needlessly deny a possibility, William had merely demurred, but he did wonder if Pandulf knew him at all. Much as he had come to dislike Rainulf, he would do anything in his power to avoid fighting his own kind, for the very simple reason that it would be a bloodbath in which the only people to gain would be the Lombards.
Now Guaimar was at the same game! They were both as bad as the other, weaving what they saw as their spells as if those they were addressing lacked any insight. Guaimar did not seem to be able to discern that William was no longer acting as his proxy: he was acting for himself and his family. Pandulf, likewise, saw him still as a mercenary to be bought. So wrapped up in their own dreams were they, neither could see how the power to decide had passed from their hands, so he listened to Guaimar as he had listened to Pandulf, without commitment.
That they should call upon him was to be expected: both were jockeying for imperial favour and afraid of censure from the same source. Rainulf had the same dilemma, but his calling was a surprise, and it was immediately clear to William that his presence in his chamber was due to the young man he brought with him, who did indeed turn out to be his nephew. In fact, it was young Richard who did the talking.
‘My uncle fears that one of these Lombards will seek to use us against the other.’
William had to wonder who had visited them before they came to him, just as he had cause to conclude that if they had been called upon by Pandulf or Guaimar then this Richard had immediately seen the risks and so the need to consult with him. It must have taken a strong argument to get his uncle to come anywhere near a de Hauteville.
Looking straight at Rainulf, William replied. ‘I do not know if I have the words to reassure him.’
Richard responded, while Rainulf’s purple face closed up in disdain. ‘I think it best to ask you to consider what purpose would be served by such an action.’
‘I think you will find, should anyone suggest such a thing, I would come to the same conclusion as you.’
‘It has not, then, been proposed?’
William just smiled: this fellow seemed shrewd enough to guess the truth, so there was no need for it to be said out loud. ‘We have little to fear. Your uncle has his County of Aversa and numerous lances, I have my men and my aims in Apulia.’
‘The emperor could strip me of that,’ Rainulf growled.
‘To what purpose, Rainulf, and if he did, who is going to take it from you?’
‘We both know,’ Richard replied, ‘that you are the only one who can certainly do so. Henry’s escort of Swabians is not enough and Guaimar would need allies to try.’
‘You have my word, I have no interest in Aversa.’
Rainulf made no effort to moderate his tone. ‘Can we believe you?’
‘We have no choice, Uncle,’ said Richard, looking William right in the eye.
The sudden appearance of a servant at the chamber entrance had William flicking his eyes to look past this youth. ‘His Imperial Highness requests that you attend upon him.’
‘Tell him I would be honoured to do so, just as soon as I have finished with my guests.’
‘There’s nothing more to say,’ barked Rainulf.
‘No,’ William replied, ‘there is not.’
‘You have not asked us for any pledge,’ said Richard.
‘It would be meaningless.’ Seeing the youngster’s face change, for the first time showing anger, William added, ‘But I see you as a person of sense and I hope you see me in the same light. As long as your uncle has you to advise him, as I once did, I doubt either of us has anything to fear.’
William left them standing there and went out of the arched doorway, immediately aware of his brother Robert leaning against the wall. ‘Have you been listening?’
‘I have,’ Robert replied. ‘You said I have much to learn, so I am doing that.’
‘And?’
‘What you said in there, as regards Aversa, might not hold for ever.’
‘Not much does hold for ever in this part of the world, Robert. If you wish to learn, learn that!’
‘I have no idea how to style you,’ said Henry, as William gave him half a bow. ‘I am not yet minded to greet you with the title Prince Guaimar granted to you.’
There were many courteous ways this emperor could have greeted him. In choosing those words he had deliberately sought to diminish William, and not being prepared to accept that, his response was brusque.
‘Then we share a dilemma, sire. Given what you have said, my suzerain is not you, it is the Duke of Normandy.’
That had the emperor looking at those around him, his own courtiers, all military men by their bearing, as well as the armed Swabian guards present, with raised eyebrows, as if he was shocked. ‘Conrad told me, when he returned to Germany many years ago, you de Hautevilles were a proud lot. Too proud perhaps.’
‘No more so, I suspect, than was he. I think it necessary in a warrior to be that.’
There was a definite prod in that: Conrad Augustus had proved himself in battle; this Henry was yet to do so and William knew by the emperor’s piqued expression he had struck home.
‘The question is, William de Hauteville, is what am I to do about you?’
‘Are you asking me to advise you?’
‘No!’
‘Then I am at a loss to know how to respond.’
Henry waved an arm towards his Swabian guards. ‘You get above yourself. I am the elected head of the Holy Roman Empire and I am unaccustomed to being so addressed by a mere mercenary.’
‘Something more than that now, I think.’
‘You are nothing, William de Hauteville, so much so that one word from me and these men who guard my honour will cut you down.’
That really got under William’s skin, and his reply was a hiss. ‘If they do you will never see Germany again.’
The emperor’s response was a bark. ‘You threaten me?’ When William gave him that knowing, superior smile it was just as effective on him. ‘Do not smirk in my presence. Do you not know to whom you speak?’
‘As of this moment, you are a young man who is not even beginning to achieve that which you set out to do, which is to get me to beg on my own behalf, and that of my family, that the titles we have been given should be confirmed. You wish me to plead. If any of these men who advise you have the courage to voice the truth, they will tell you I have no need to do so.’
‘And if I declare you an enemy?’
‘That is your right, yet I have taken nothing from you. Everything I have was once the property of Byzantium. I can, however, give you Apulia, by acknowledging you as my imperial suzerain.’
‘And Guaimar of Salerno, what of him?’
‘He is already your vassal, do with him what you will.’
‘Am I to take it you will not support him?’
‘You could have asked me that at the start of this conversation, so now I will answer the questions you should have posed, the ones which concern you, to which I would have responded with the truth.’
‘I think I must judge whether someone is being truthful.’
‘Then take it as you will. I owe Guaimar nothing, even if I am wed to his sister, and I will not pledge the men I lead to any enterprise you fear he may have in mind. I will not, either, combine with Rainulf Drengot and the lances he leads on any imperial fief.’
‘Easily said, and just as easily denied.’
‘Then listen to this. Neither will I stand aside, and nor will my family, if he is threatened. It is not for the love of Rainulf but because I will not see my fellow Normans put to the sword, and I have good grounds to feel they would treat me likewise. Understand that if you threaten one of us you threaten us all. Now that you know my mind, you may make up your own, and I will await whatever your pleasure is.’
William spun round and walked out, without bowing, leaving behind him a buzz of angry talk, not least from an emperor screaming that he would ‘not be treated in such a manner’.