Ardoin (
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Ardoin (Arduin): (fl. 11th century). Lombard man-at-arms. After serving as armiger (squire) for the church of S. Ambrogio in Milan, he joined a mercenary band traveling to southern Italy. Thanks to his knowledge of Greek, he was able to become an officer in the Byzantine army of George Maniaces. Having won a beautiful horse as a prize for defeating a Saracen warrior in single combat, he refused to hand it over when Maniaces demanded the animal for himself. Maniaces then had the horse seized and ordered that Ardoin be whipped through the camp. Outraged over this treatment, Ardoin deserted. The incident also disgusted a body of Norman mercenaries who also left the army and returned to the mainland. These Normans subsequently formed the core from which came the leaders who seized southern Italy for themselves. Thus, the incident of Ardoin’s horse marked the beginning of the series of events leading to the foundation of the Kingdom of Sicily. Ardoin later seized control of the city of Melfi.