INTRODUCTION. 91 
and exhausted by their labours. The duke of Nor- 
mandy and the count of Flanders, by the way of 
Constantinople, returned into Apulia in September, 
1 obert was received by his countrymen and 
relations, Ruggiero count of Sicily, and his nephew 
Ruggiero duke of Apulia, with the cordiality and 
honours due to the successful champions of the cross, 
and in a round of festivities they forgot the suffer- 
ings of their Christian warfare. Robert was van- 
quished by the charms of Sybilla, the daughter of 
Geoffrey count of Conversano, the nephew of Robert 
Guiscard. She was a lady of great beauty, elegant 
manners, and superior understanding. At a sub- 
sequent period, after their return to Normandy, she 
was said to have conducted the affairs of the dutchy, 
during his temporary absences, with more judgment 
than her imprudent husband. He had a son by her 
named William, who became count of Flanders. 
Yet she appears to have fallen early a sacrifice to 
the envy and factiousness of some Norman ladies of 
nobility, Upon this marriage, from his father-in-law 
and other friends, Robert received a large treasure 
to enable him to redeem his dominions ®. 
* As our general historians give little account of this mar- 
tiage, and the lady, I extract the following passages from the 
original historians. See Gesta Francorum in, Bongarsius’s 
