The
Duchy of Sorrento was a small peninsular principality of the
Early Middle Ages centred on the
Italian city of
Sorrento.
Originally, Sorrento was part of the
Byzantine Duchy of Naples in the
Dark Ages, but in the ninth century, along with
Amalfi and
Gaeta, it broke away from the Neapolitans to found its own
ducatus (or republic). However, it mostly remained under Amalfi and only one independent duke is known from this period, a
Sergius in the late ninth century.
In 1035, it was conquered by the
Lombards under
Guaimar IV of Salerno and bestowed on his younger brother
Guy, who ruled it until the 1070s. Not long after that, it was annexed by the
Normans.
In 1119, a certain
Sergius undersigned a diploma of
William II, Duke of Apulia, as "Prince of Sorrento."
Sources
- Gay, Jules. L'Italie méridionale et l'empire Byzantin. Burt Franklin: New York, 1904.
Sorrento, Duchy ofSorrento (Duchy)lt:Sorento hercogystė