Canes, the ancient not far city from Barletta, near the skillful river of the Ofanto, Middle Ages maintained one its importance also, being episcopal center. Roberto the Guiscardo, in the second part of XI the century, has created in the South of Italy its reign normanno, continuously laid a trap from local rebellions fomented of the emperor of East, is during one of these, capeggiata from conte the Ermanno di Canne, than the troops of the Guiscardo they defeat in 1083, seeding the destruction in the city.
In this historical context, Ruggero appears, whose name makes to think next to an origin normanna.
Other sure historical sources on birth and youth do not exist: the only one is that one of its successive nomination to bishop of Canes to the disaster of 1093, in a time lacking in hopes and with the endemic flagellum of the war that discourages also the will to reconstruct.
Ruggero, characterizes its primary mission, as popular source of XV the century emerges from one on its life, to the survival of the Cannense population.
The Episcopio di Ruggero becomes “a pure one ospitio that always day was opened de nocte ET de to lodge viandanti ET the pilgrims, ET vidue ET the pupilli (orphaned)”. Ignoto the author describes unl Ruggero bishop who “went barefoot with pede the knot for those campegne cercanno the limosine for poor them”.
Untiring rescuer, removes to a higher court to if also tasks of the civil authority in that landslide of the institutions. Other assessed historical source is that one of two papi consecutive, Paschal II and Gelasio II (in loads from 1099 to the 1119) that they resort to its council and its experience in right issues, for dirimere arguments and sedare rivalry between ecclesiastics and community, in one Church instradata towards one reform characterized from enormous difficulties to its inside.
The name of Ruggero, for a sure period, was connected to legends that made of he a bishop of V the century. Only towards the end of the 800, thanks to take care of historical studies to you of don Nicholas Monterisi, come defined the historical figure of Ruggero Bishop the future archbishop of Salerno.
To Ruggero already miracles are attributed while still alive, and after the dead women (placed to 30 December 1129) are the popular voice to proclamare endured its holiness.
At first it comes buried in the Cane cathedral.
But by now the inhabitants that remain in the citadel detach from it in unstoppable way and Canes are not more in a position to reviving. The cannensi, and also the successory bishops of Ruggero, are moved gradatamente to Barletta, where in XIII the century they come traslati the rests, it considers reliquie you of the saint: initially in the Cathedral of Saint Greater Maria and subsequently near the Benedictine monastero of Santo Stefano, than then it will be called of Saint Ruggero, venerato like protecting Cane bishop and of Barletta.
The emblema of Saint Ruggero, beyond to the pastorale stick, it is also the Aquila, because the tradition wants that flying it has made them shadow to the saint with its wings during a travel.
