Aboulchare was appointed doux of Calabria. He reached Dyrrachion, sailed from there to Bari, and remained there when he learnt of Reggio's fall to Robert Guiscard. He would organise the resistance of those cities still on the Roman side, namely Bari, Hydrous (Otranto), Kallipolis (Gallipoli), Taras (Taranto), Brendesion (Brindisi), Horai, and many other towns. He appointed strategoi, and sent troops to defend them