# Bohemond I of Antioch

> Prince of Taranto and Prince of Antioch

**Wikidata**: [Q220806](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220806)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemond_I_of_Antioch)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bohemond-i-of-antioch

## Summary

Bohemond I of Antioch (also known as Bohémond de Tarente) was a Norman military leader and nobleman who lived from approximately 1054 to March 3, 1111. He served as Prince of Taranto and became the first Prince of Antioch, ruling as a feudatory. He is best known as one of the principal commanders of the First Crusade (1096–1099).

## Biography

- **Born:** c. 1054
- **Died:** March 3, 1111
- **Nationality:** France
- **Known for:** Leadership during the First Crusade; founding the Principality of Antioch
- **Field(s):** Military leadership, feudal governance, crusading warfare

## Contributions

Bohemond I played a central role in the First Crusade (1096–1099), the Christian military campaign to conquer the Holy Land. Following the capture of Antioch in 1098, he established himself as Prince of Antioch, founding one of the four major Crusader states in the Levant. He ruled this territory as a feudatory, holding authority nominally as a vassal under a feudal overlord. His governance of Taranto in southern Italy similarly demonstrated his role as a feudal magnate controlling strategically vital Mediterranean territories.

## FAQs

**Who was Bohemond I of Antioch?**
Bohemond I was a Norman nobleman and military commander who became Prince of Taranto and later Prince of Antioch during the First Crusade.

**What was Bohemond's role in the First Crusade?**
He was one of the principal leaders of the First Crusade (1096–1099), the Christian campaign to conquer the Holy Land, and was instrumental in the capture and subsequent defense of Antioch.

**What territories did Bohemond rule?**
He held the title Prince of Taranto in southern Italy and Prince of Antioch in the Levant, ruling both as a feudatory under broader feudal structures.

**What was Bohemond's family background?**
He was a member of the Hauteville family, a prominent Norman dynasty. He is referenced in genealogical records under the Hauteville family designation.

**What is Bohemond's Coat of Arms?**
His heraldic arms are documented as "Blason Bohémond d'Antioche.svg," representing his identity as a Norman prince and crusader lord.

## Why They Matter

Bohemond I of Antioch matters as one of the most consequential figures of the First Crusade and the broader Crusading movement. His capture and establishment of the Principality of Antioch created one of the longest-lasting Crusader states in the Levant, which endured for nearly two centuries. The principality served as a critical military, political, and cultural bridgehead between Western Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, shaping the dynamics of Christian-Muslim relations and Mediterranean geopolitics for generations. His leadership demonstrated the Norman capacity for strategic warfare and state-building far beyond their original territories in northern France and southern Italy. Bohemond's fame spread widely across medieval Europe, making him one of the most celebrated and recognizable crusading figures of his era.

## Notable For

- **Prince of Taranto:** Ruler of the strategic Italian port city and surrounding territory
- **Prince of Antioch:** Founder of the Crusader state centered on the ancient city of Antioch
- **First Crusade Leader:** Principal commander during the 1096–1099 campaign to conquer the Holy Land
- **Feudatory Ruler:** Governed territories within the feudal system as a vassal lord
- **Norman Expansion:** Extended Norman influence from Italy into the eastern Mediterranean
- **Hauteville Dynasty:** Member of the powerful Norman family that produced multiple rulers across southern Italy and the Levant

## Body

### Early Life and Background

Bohemond I was born around 1054. He was a member of the Hauteville family, a prominent Norman lineage that produced numerous rulers and military leaders across medieval Europe and the Mediterranean. His alternative names include Boamund, Bohemund I, Bohemond of Taranto, and the French designation Bohémond de Tarente. He held citizenship or national identity connected to France, the country in Western Europe that traces its political origins to the Treaty of Verdun in 843.

### Role in the First Crusade

Bohemond participated as a major leader in the First Crusade (1096–1099), the Christian military expedition aimed at conquering the Holy Land. The crusade was one of the most significant religious and military undertakings of the medieval period, reshaping the political map of the eastern Mediterranean. Bohemond's martial capabilities and strategic acumen positioned him as one of the expedition's foremost commanders. He was involved in multiple military engagements during the campaign, as indicated by records linking him to several conflict entries in historical documentation.

### Principality of Antioch

Following the capture of Antioch during the First Crusade, Bohemond established himself as its prince, founding the Principality of Antioch. This entity became one of the four major Crusader states established in the wake of the First Crusade. As prince, Bohemond functioned as a feudatory — a ruler who governed his territory at least nominally as a vassal to a feudal overlord. Antioch itself was an ancient and strategically significant city, and its capture represented a pivotal achievement of the crusading movement. The principality controlled key trade routes and military positions in the Levant.

### Principality of Taranto

In addition to his Levantine holdings, Bohemond held the title Prince of Taranto, a significant port city and territory in southern Italy. This position reflected the broader Norman expansion into Mediterranean territories that characterized the 11th century. His governance of Taranto demonstrated his dual role as both an Italian feudal lord and a crusader prince.

### Death and Legacy

Bohemond I died on March 3, 1111. His death marked the end of a career that had spanned the Norman worlds of southern Italy and the crusader Levant. He was survived by the institutional legacy of the Principality of Antioch, which continued under his successors. His life is documented extensively across numerous historical, biographical, and academic sources, with records in dozens of libraries, archives, and reference systems throughout Europe and beyond.

### Documentation and Records

Bohemond I of Antioch is extensively documented across a wide array of reference systems and bibliographic databases. His records appear in major international cataloging systems, reflecting his prominence in medieval history. He is the subject of biographical entries in numerous encyclopedias, national biographical dictionaries, and academic databases across multiple countries and languages. His Wikipedia entry appears across 52 language editions, indicating sustained global scholarly and public interest. His coat of arms ("Blason Bohémond d'Antioche.svg") and historical imagery continue to be used in heraldic and historical documentation.

## References

1. British Museum person-institution thesaurus
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. CERL Thesaurus
5. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani
6. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
7. Enciclopedia Treccani
8. Dizionario di Storia
9. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Boemund-I;3878897.html)
10. Sejm-Wielki.pl