In 1058, a year after the death of Pandulf's weak successor, the Norman count Richard of Aversa conquers Capua, but leaves the city itself in the control of Landulf VIII for another four years.

Richard immediately increases his prestige with the princely title and his power by the territory which comes under his authority.

He becomes a neighbor of the popes and is both their protector and supporter and also an enemy who spends his last years in excommunication, as does his son and successor, Jordan I, who carves out a chunk of papal territory for the principality.

At Richard's death, his family, the Drengot, have a prestige and power to match that of the Hauteville family, but they act in a different sphere of influence: the Papal States and central Italy primarily.With the death of Jordan I, the principality declines fast.

From 1090 to 1098, the city of Capua itself is in the hands of Lando, a Lombard count who is raised by the citizens in opposition to the young Richard II.

The latter is only reinstalled with the aid of his fellow Normans and thus Capua becomes dependent on the Hautevilles and their duchy, though the princes continue to try to influence papal elections and act as papal protectors.

With the death of the religious Jordan II in 1127, the principality becomes the object of desire of Roger II, who has united the Sicilian and peninsular domains of his family.

For twenty years from 1135 to 1155, the Hautevilles wars with Robert II of Capua until his clan is finally removed permanently from power.