Robert Guiscard sent his son Roger to Kephalonia, sailed to join him, but fell ill of a fever & died

Summary:
After losing the battle near Butrinto, Guiscard sent his son Roger with some of his ships to Kephalonia, to capture the city on the island. Guiscard anchored the rest of his fleet near Bonditza, together with his whole army. He later sailed to join Roger, but before he reached him, he was attacked by a terrible fever near a promontory called Ather; the names Ather and Jerusalem (on Ithake) were combined in a prophecy of his death, which followed six days later. His wife Gaita arrived just before he died, his son Guy was there to mourn him as he died, his other son Roger was informed and arrived soon after as his heir, confirmed by his father before he died. Roger at first was grieving uncontrollably 
Dates:
1085 July 17 
inhabitant of Kephalonia (Anonymus 15048)
  • Related to Robert 61 the story about the ancient city of Jerusalem (on Ithaca) with its spring of ever-fresh drinking water, implying a prophecy of his death (:) Anna Komnene 179.50-54
Gaita/Sykelgaite, second wife of Robert Guiscard (Gaita 101)
  • She joined her husband Robert 61 on Kephalonia just before his death (:) Anna Komnene 180.62-63
Guy of Hauteville (Guy 4004)
  • He was with his father Robert 61 and mourned him as he died (:) Anna Komnene 180.63
Robert Guiscard (Robert 61)
  • After losing the battle, he sent Roger 15001 with some of his ships to Kephalonia, to capture the city on the island; he anchored the rest of his fleet near Bonditza, together with his whole army (:) Anna Komnene 179.41-46
  • He sailed to join Roger 15001, but before he reached him, he was attacked by a fever near a promontory called Ather; the names Ather and Jerusalem (on Ithake) were combined in a prophecy of his death, which followed six days later Anna Komnene 179.46-180.62
  • His wife Gaita 101 arrived just before he died, his son Guy 4004 was with him as he died, his other son Roger 15001 was informed and arrived soon after as his heir, confirmed by his father before he died (:) Anna Komnene 180.62-65
Roger Borsa, Duke of Apulia, son of Robert Guiscard (Roger 15001)
  • After the loss of the battle, he was sent by Robert 61 to Kephalonia with some of the fleet, while the other ships and the army remained at Bonditza; Robert later set out to join him (:) Anna Komnene 179.41-47
  • Robert 61 died before could reach Roger; he was summoned, and arrived soon after, confirmed as Robert's heir, to claim his patrimony, at first grieving uncontrollably (:) Anna Komnene 180.64-66