William of Hauteville (died 1046), better known by his nickname, William Iron Arm, was a Norman military leader and the first Count of Apulia. He initiated the series of fortunes of the House of Hauteville.
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Life
William was a son of Tancred of Hauteville by his first wife Muriella. Goffredo Malaterra records him as being the eldest son, while Romuald Guarna records him as being the fourth, coming after Serlo, Geoffrey and Drogo. Regardless, it is unlikely that William was older than Serlo, as Serlo stayed in Normandy to inherit their father's possessions, while William journeyed to Southern Italy.
Since Tancred had many sons, and his possessions weren't enough to satisfy all of them, William and many of his brothers were soon forced to seek fortune elsewhere.
First years in Southern Italy
Around 1035/7, William journeyed to Southern Italy with his brothers Drogo and Humphrey, to strengthen the ranks of Rainulf Drengot, Count of Aversa, the first Norman mercenary lord who had been granted a fief. Together with Rainulf, the Hauteville brothers took part in a military operation led by Guaimar IV of Salerno against Pandulf IV, Prince of Capua.
With time, William and his brothers put themselves under the direct service of Guaimar IV. Guaimar sent them, together with other Norman and Lombard forces, to help in a Byzantine attempt to conquer Sicily, which was occupied by the Saracens. Between 1038 and 1040, William, together with his brothers, fought in Sicily, distinguishing himself in the battles fought at Messina and Troina. During the siege of Syracuse, led by the Byzantine general Georgios Maniakes, William charged and single-handedly killed the emir of the city, gaining himself his nickname, "Iron Arm".
