Recently came across this quote on Wikipedia: "In 1080, the marca Anconitana was given in investiture to Robert Guiscard by Pope Gregory VII, to whom the Countess Matilda ceded the marches of Camerino and Fermo."
These territories were well north of Guiscard's holdings, any idea if this is accurate at all? I've found nothing aside from that one line on the subject. Does anyone have any more information on this, perhaps even where these marches are located?
Currently the cities of Camerino and Fermo are on the eastern side of central Italy. There were a number of marches in the this region during the middle ages.
When you consider the location of the marches relative to Guiscards and the papacy's holdings, as well as the political situation of the time, giving these territories to Guiscard makes a lot of sense.
Matilda of Tuscany "donated" a large number of her holdings to the papacy. She was on very good terms with the pope, Gregory VII who would then have her hold them in his trust. By giving these lands to Gregory Matilda played a political game whereby the titular ownership passed from the Holy Roman Emperor to the Papacy.
Now for the two marches you mention I do not know exactly how Matilda came to posses them. However, at this time the conflict between Gregory and Henry IV of Germany was back in full force, and Gregory sought to make amends with Robert Guiscard, whom he had excommunicated years earlier.
Gregory enfiefed Guiscard with many of the holdings he'd taken in his conquest. Since the pope was given them to him, this "legitimized" Guiscard's conquests. In turn, this meant that Guiscard held them for the pope, and was this dependent on the pope to justify his right to the holdings.
Therefore, it makes sense that Gregory would give these lands to Guiscard. They are not very close to his other holdings, but they are also not as far away as one might think. Giving these lands to him bought Gregroy some goodwill, and also gave Guiscard a nominal stake in central Italy. When Henry IV attacked Rome Guiscard abandoned his campaign in the Balkans and came to Gregory's rescue. While this might have been because Guiscard wanted to stop Henry from marching farther south, Gregory's donations certainly would not have hurt his decision.
Here are some good sources on this period if you are interested in further reading.
The Age of Robert Guiscard: Southern Italy and the Northern Conquest by Gharam Loud
The Investiture Controversy Church and Monarchy from the Ninth to the Twelfth Century by Uta-Renate Blumenthal
The History of the Normans by Amatus of Montecassino
The Letters of Gregory VII.