AMATO of MONTECASSINO. - Benedictine, historian of the 11th century. He was a monk of the famous abbey under Abbot Desiderius (1058–86); he was also a bishop, as reliable documentary sources attest, though we do not know which diocese he governed.
His name is linked to the *Historia Normannorum*, in 8 books, written between 1086 and 1086 and dedicated to Desiderius, the inspiration behind the work. The first 3 books recount the history of the Normans from their northern origins to their early conquests in Italy; from Book IV onward, the narrative focuses on Richard of Capua and Robert Guiscard. The account ends with the death of Richard (1078). A. is enthusiastic about the Normans.
(v. Altinari)