 He was the count of Minervino Murge and Altamura, as well as the grandson of Giovanni Pipino da Barletta.Together with his brothers, he was well known for his violent character and arrogance towards the people he submitted.According to the sources, the brothers tried to subjugate many cities and territories of the Kingdom of Naples over the first half of the XIV century, taking advantage of the disorder and absence of power in the Kingdom of Naples which started right before the death of king Robert of Anjou.