La petriera

This is, perhaps, a little known legend, as little known and rarely mentioned is the protagonist of this story which, once again, intertwines pure narrative invention with real events: the Lombard Prince Gisulfo I. Prince of Salerno for well 34 years old, from 943 to 977 AD, son of Guaimario II and Gaitelgrima, this is how the historian from Salerno Vincenzo De Simone describes him: "... .. he was able to skillfully extricate himself in the relations between the papacy, the Germanic empire and the Byzantines, managing to guarantee his principality a long period of peace and prosperity ”.

One day, inside the Aquino Castle, a furious rebellion against Prince Landolfo of Capua suddenly broke out, led by a certain Adenolfo, who, no longer knowing how to stop it, turned to Gisulfo asking for his help. The latter, leading a mighty army, joined that of the Prince of Capua, in an attempt to quell the rebellion. Unfortunately, the intervention was not successful.

In the meantime, a soldier from Salerno named Sichelmanno, a carpenter from Acerno (a small village in the Picentini mountains), thanks to the intercession of a doctor linked to the famous Medical School, as well as a philosopher named Pietro (later Bishop of the city -PietroVI- in the mid-X century) and friend of Prince Gisulfo, he came before the brave Prince by proposing to him a war machine, called "petriera", capable of overturning the outcome of the battle. It was an ingenious siege weapon that used stone (well shaped) as a projectile, therefore a sort of trebuchet (large sling with a long arm pivoted on top of a pole well welded to the ground). Gisulfo greatly appreciated the advice of the humble carpenter and ordered him to make a large one. With it, the revolt soon capitulated, forcing Adenolfo himself to beg pardon from the prince of Salerno, who willingly accepted, as did the prince of Capua.