Aftermath
The Pope was taken prisoner by the victorious Normans.
There is some uncertainty over how this happened. Papal sources say that Leo left Civitate and surrendered himself to prevent further bloodshed. Other sources indicate that the inhabitants of Civitate handed over the Pope. He was treated respectfully but was imprisoned at Benevento for almost nine months, and forced to ratify a number of treaties favorable to the Normans.
After six years, and three more anti-Norman Popes, the Treaty of Melfi (1059) marked the recognition of the Norman power in South Italy. There were two reasons for this change in Papal politics.
First, the Normans had shown to be a strong (and close by) enemy, while the Emperor a weak (and far away) ally. Second, Pope Nicholas II had decided to cut the bonds between the Roman Church and the Holy Roman Emperors, reclaiming for the Roman cardinals the right to elect the Pope, thus reducing the importance of the Emperor. And in the foreseeable struggle against the Empire, a strong ally was more important than a strong enemy.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of Civitate
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“The aftermath of joy is not usually more joy.”
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