In 1132, the disaffected Ranulf had gathered a large force with his ally, the prince of Capua, Robert II.

The retreat over the Apennines was remarkably quick, and while the rebels moved equally speedily to meet the royal army at Nocera, Roger destroyed the sole bridge spanning the river Sarno.

Roger raised his siege at the coming of the rebel army and Ranulf sent 250 knights ahead to the city walls to divert a fraction of the royal troops.

"[1] Having forced a crossing, the rebel army was "in a dangerous tactical position, for with the river at their backs, there would be scant possibility of an orderly retreat across the single bridge over the Sarno.

The Capuan infantry retreated over the makeshift bridge, which collapsed and a thousand supposedly drowned.

The booty was immense, according to both rebel-sympathising chroniclers, like Falco of Benevento, and royalists, like Henry, Bishop of Saint Agatha.