Counts · Kingdom of Sicily under the regency · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Conversano (Berard)

Conversano was one of the great Norman counties of the Terra di Bari, stretching in its prime from Bari toward Brindisi.

Hugh Lupin, one of Tancred's two captains and master justiciars of Apulia in 1190 who went over to Henry VI, held it from 1192 to 1197. Since 1197 it has belonged to Berard, who also holds the county of Loreto in the Abruzzi. From 1199 Berard styles himself master justiciar of Apulia and the Terra di Lavoro, the regency's chief officer on the mainland in his own reckoning, and Innocent III wrote to him as a pillar of Frederick's cause.

That makes him the leading regency baron of the Terra di Bari on 1 January 1200.

Who he is

Name
Berard (Berardo), count of Loreto and Conversano
Title
Count of Loreto and Conversano; styles himself master justiciar of Apulia and the Terra di Lavoro (1199-1207)
Since
1197 (it.wikipedia gives his tenure as 1197-1207)
Born
not pinned
Family
Married to Maria Margherita, daughter of Count Joscelin of Loreto (died on the Third Crusade, 1189) and of Adelisa, a daughter of King Roger II; she brought him the county of Loreto, which he held by 1 August 1192 (abr record, citing the Federiciana). His own birth family is not pinned: it.wikipedia calls him 'Berardo di Celano', unconfirmed. Children not pinned.
Confidence
medium

Federiciana (Puglia, by J.-M. Martin): 'from 1199 to 1207 Berard, count of Loreto and Conversano, regarded himself also as master justiciar of Apulia and Terra di Lavoro', as did Count James of Tricarico; Innocent III called on the count of Loreto and Conversano to fight Frederick's enemies. Richard of San Germano also calls him count of Conversano (abr record). it.wikipedia (Contea di Conversano): Hugh Lupin held the county 1192-1197, then Berard 1197-1207; it.wikipedia (Molfetta) says Hugh Lupin had the county from 1190 and that after his death Constance took Molfetta into the royal demesne.

Overlord

The king under the regency; his Abruzzese county of Loreto is the abr researcher's ground.

What it holds

  • The castle and town of Conversano
  • The county's villages: Turi, Castellana, Casamassima, Rutigliano, Noci, Mola (later lists; extent in 1200 not pinned)
  • Probably Polignano on the coast (part of the Norman county; in 1200 not pinned)
  • Not Molfetta: part of the county under Hugh Lupin, it was taken into the royal demesne by Constance after his death (1197-1198) and returns to Conversano only in 1207
  • The county of Loreto in the Abruzzi (drawn by the abr researcher)

How it was acquired

From 1197, after Hugh Lupin (it.wikipedia); how he came by it is not pinned.

Allies and rivals

The pope's man on the mainland. Neighbours: the royal cities of Bari and Monopoli, the crown's Taranto to the south. Shares the claim to the master justiciarship with James, count of Tricarico (cal).

How things stand that morning

Holds Conversano and Loreto and acts, by his own title, as master justiciar of Apulia and the Terra di Lavoro for the boy king, on the papal side.

Wealth

Olive oil, almonds, grain and wine of the Murge edge; the county's dues and courts. No figures.

Military

The castle of Conversano and the knights of the two counties. No numbers known.

Threats

  • The German captains if they turn on Apulia
  • Rival claimants to the justiciarship (James of Tricarico)
  • The chancellor Walter of Palear if he breaks with the pope

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

In 1200

  1. 1200-1207Berard goes on styling himself master justiciar of Apulia and the Terra di Lavoro until 1207.Depends on: The regency's weakness and papal favour Stopped by: His death or loss of papal favour

Later, on the likely course

  1. 1202The pope's cousin James the marshal is made master justiciar of all Apulia and the Terra di Lavoro, overlapping Berard's claim.Depends on: Walter of Brienne's campaign succeeding Stopped by: Brienne's failure

Places of note

  • Castle of Conversano: Seat of the county

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Office and dates from the Federiciana; tenure from 1197 and the Celano attribution from it.wikipedia only.

On the map: Extent from later lists; the Abruzzese county of Loreto is not drawn here.

Primary sources for Sicily

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

7 more in the sources library for Southern Italy and the Islands.

Sources and studies

  1. Puglia, Enciclopedia Federiciana (treccani.it)
  2. Contea di Conversano (it.wikipedia)
  3. Molfetta (it.wikipedia)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.