Editing Pope Leo IX (section)

===Conflict with the Normans===
In constant fear of attack from the [[Normans]] in the south of Italy, the [[Byzantine]]s turned in desperation to the Normans' own spiritual chief, Pope Leo IX, and, according to [[William of Apulia]], begged him "to liberate Italy that now lacks its freedom and to force that wicked people, who are pressing [[Apulia]] under their yoke, to leave". After a fourth Easter synod in 1053, Leo IX set out against the [[Norman conquest of southern Italy|Norman in the south]] with an army of Italians and [[Swabia]]n [[mercenaries]]. "As fervent Christians the Normans were reluctant to fight their spiritual leader and tried to sue for peace but the Swabians mocked them—battle was inevitable."<ref>Robert Bartlett, ''The Normans of the South'', BBC TV</ref> Leo IX led the army himself, but his forces suffered total defeat at the [[Battle of Civitate]] on 15 June 1053.{{sfn|Theotokis|2014|p=133}} Nonetheless, on going out from the city to meet the victorious enemy he was received with every token of submission, pleas for forgiveness and oaths of fidelity and homage. From June 1053 to March 1054 the pope was nevertheless held hostage at [[Benevento]], in honourable captivity, until he acknowledged the Norman conquests in [[Calabria]] and Apulia. He did not long survive his return to Rome, where he died on 19 April 1054.{{cn|date=June 2022}}