War and Peace

The Norman Conquerors in Italy in the 11th and 12th Centuries

The exhibition dedicated to the Norman conquerors in Italy in the 11th and 12th centuries offers a lively immersion into this historical epic, retracing the journey of these adventurers who left the Coutances region to establish themselves in Southern Italy and Sicily.

Designed to make history accessible and tangible, it combines archaeological objects, drawn reconstructions, staged displays, and manipulable elements in a narrative and sensory journey.

Items from the Museum of Normandy in Caen, such as spurs, sword elements, pottery, and children's games, illustrate life in Normandy in the 11th century and evoke the education of the sons of minor lords, like those of Tancred of Hauteville, trained early in the handling of weapons and the art of combat. This training partly explains their enlistment as mercenaries in a fragmented Italy, where their military skills are particularly sought after.

The exhibition then retraces their rise, marked by decisive confrontations, such as the Battle of Civitate, as well as by alliances, political strategies, and rivalries, notably between Robert Guiscard and his brother Roger. The great figures of this conquest come to life through life-size reconstructions, created with a focus on historical accuracy, also incorporating female figures who played a part in this story.

The journey continues in Sicily, at the court of Roger II, where a society enriched by multiple Mediterranean influences is revealed. Architectural achievements, as well as the presentation of remarkable reproductions like Roger II's coronation mantle or the world map created by the geographer al-Idrisi, testify to the cultural and political prominence of this court.

The entire visit relies on an immersive approach, integrating a sound creation evoking the linguistic diversity of medieval Sicily, as well as devices allowing visitors to handle military equipment to better understand the daily life of warriors.

Dedicated spaces enhance the experience, with activities for young audiences around construction and drawing, as well as a projection area offering additional insights into this period, providing both an educational and sensitive discovery of this Norman adventure.

Practical Information:
For all audiences
Free
Translation available in Italian

Cooperation France / Southern Italy
Partnerships: Center for Archaeological and Historical Research of Antiquity and the Middle Ages (CRAHAM) and University of Picardie