Duke Manso I of Amalfi finally deposes Pandulf II of his rule in Salerno in 982.
By 982, the entire area once ruled by Pandulf has collapsed, weakening Otto II's position against Constantinople, which still claims sovereignty over the Lombard principalities.
The lack of singular leader to prevent their advances into Lombard territory allows the Eastern Romans to make inroads further north.
Otto II has attempted on several occasions to reunified the Lombard principalities politically and ecclesiastically into his Empire after Pandulf's death.
Though he unsuccessfully besieged Manso I in Salerno, Otto II ultimately obtains the recognition of his authority from all the Lombard principalities.
With his authority reestablished over the Lombard princes, Otto II turns his attention towards the threat from Muslim Sicily.
Since the 960s, the island had been under Muslim rule as the Emirate of Sicily, a state of the Fatimid Caliphate.
The ruling Kalbid dynasty had conducted raids against Imperial territories in southern Italy.
The death of Pandulf in 981 had allowed the Sicilian Emir Abu al-Qasim to increase his raids, hitting targets in Apulia and Calabria.
As early as 980, Otto II had demanded a fleet from the city of Pisa to help him carry out his war in southern Italy, and in September 981, he had marched into southern Italy.
Needing allies in his campaign against the Muslims and the Empire, Otto II reconciles with Manso I, granting imperial recognition of his rule over Salerno.
