The Norman Empire between the eleventh and twelfth centuries with special reference to the Normans in southern Italy

The main argument of our paper was intended to explore the historiographical concept of Empire in Norman studies. The application of that concept in order to point out Norman conquests was suggested by Charles Homer Haskins one century ago and after that was resumed by John Le Patourel in the mid '70s. In our paper we suggest that "Norman Empire" was too imprecise to point out the essential features of the Norman expansion. Then, we scrutinized some historiographical texts debating the success of the Norman Conquest in Southern Italy testifying the character of Hauteville family that saw in its victories the recognition of providential role in the History of Medieval Europe. A power not yet cloaked with an imperial aura, but able to propose in XIIth century a new synthesis of cultural traditions existing in the mediterranean world.