Guiscard addressed his counts, allowed them to choose him as leader, & successfully proposed burning their boats

Summary:
Guiscard addressed his counts (as reported in the text of Anna Komnene), reminding them of the wrong done to his daughter Helena by Nikephoros III. He claimed that the new younger Alexios I should accept responsibility - but warned he would be much harder to defeat. To win the upcoming battle they needed unity of command - and he shyly allowed them to choose him as leader. They also needed absolute determination - and he successfully proposed burning their baggage and sinking their boats 
Dates:
1081 October 
Robert Guiscard (Robert 61)
  • He addressed his counts (as reported by Anna 62), reminding them of the wrong done to Helena 101 by Nikephoros 3; the new younger Alexios 1 should accept responsibility - but would be much harder to defeat (:) Anna Komnene 130.33-42
  • To win the battle they needed unity of command - and he shyly allowed them to choose him as leader; they also needed absolute determination - and he successfully proposed burning their baggage and sinking their boats (:) Anna Komnene 130.41-131.66