"For the Normans never desired any of the Lombards to win a decisive victory, in case this should be to their disadvantage. But now supporting the one and then aiding the other, they prevented anyone being completely ruined."

as professional soldiers, the normans didn't want to see an end to conflict in italy. that would have been bad for business. every time it looked like one of the princes had an upper hand, they'd bail to join forces with a smaller prince in order to ensure the war didn't end. they'd go back and forth up the countryside, reconquering the same areas over and over again for different princes. nobody really trusted them, but nobody knew how to get rid of them, either - that they were there was a fact of life, and, certainly, nobody wanted to *fight* them.

it's amazing how little things have changed....

this is a good case study, though, in explaining how abolishing the state and maintaining currency exchange will not eliminate war.