Robert de Guiscard was a Norman nobleman and military leader who lived during the 11th century. He was known for his ambitious and successful military campaigns in southern Italy, where he established the Norman presence and eventually founded the Norman state of Sicily. Guiscard was a skilled tactician and leader, and his conquests had a significant impact on the political landscape of Italy during his time. He is often remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Norman conquest of southern Italy.