Lombard duchies
Encyclopedia
The Lombard duchies were the main political organizations created by the Lombards
in Italy
.
After the invasion led by Alboin
in 568
-569
the conquered territory was divided in a primarily military manner and assigned to those who, among the nobles Lombards, had proved themselves in combat: the dukes
, exactly. The charge was not new and was linked to the establishment of Fara, basic unit of social and military structure of the Lombards, but after the settlement in Italy
took on new characteristics.
The first Duchy to be constituted, already in the aftermath of the conquest (569
), was the one of Friuli
, and entrusted by Alboin to Gisulf
. Particular historic significance had the two duchies erected in central-southern Italy (the Langobardia Minor
), Spoleto
and Benevento
, who often enjoyed broad autonomy within the Lombard Kingdom.
In the early years of the Lombard domination in Italy, the duchies were governed independently for a decade(Rule of the Dukes
, 574
-584
), without a central king. Later on, in front of the inefficiency and dangerous military weakness of such fragmentation, the dukes came back to elect a king (Autari), but the relationship between central power and the duchies remained weak. Only with time, the centralization of royal power, at least in Langobardia Maior (north-central Italy), prevailed on the details of the duchies.
The duchy was for several Lombard nobles a "springboard" to the throne of Pavia
(among many examples, several stand out among the greatest among the kings of the Lombards: Autari, Agilulf
, Rothari
, Grimoald
, Rachis
, Aistulf
, Desiderius
). Not always, however, the coup was successful, and the attempted usurpation ended with the death of the rebel Duke (Alahis
, Rotarit
).
The Lombard duchies, both in Langobardia Maior as in Langobardia Minor, were not abolished with the fall in the realm (774
), but later became part of the Carolingian Empire
. The only exception, the Duchy of Benevento
soon be elevated to the rank of principality (but then also weakened by secessions), retained its autonomy and indeed played an important political role until the arrival of the Normans
(11th century).
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
After the invasion led by Alboin
Alboin
Alboin was king of the Lombards from about 560 until 572. During his reign the Lombards ended their migrations by settling in Italy, the northern part of which Alboin conquered between 569 and 572...
in 568
568
Year 568 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 568 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* April 1 – King Alboin leads the Lombards...
-569
569
Year 569 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 569 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* The King of the Garamantes signs...
the conquered territory was divided in a primarily military manner and assigned to those who, among the nobles Lombards, had proved themselves in combat: the dukes
Duke (Lombard)
Among the Lombards, the duke or dux was the man who act as political and military commander of a set of "military families" , irrespective of any territorial appropriation.-Etymology:...
, exactly. The charge was not new and was linked to the establishment of Fara, basic unit of social and military structure of the Lombards, but after the settlement in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
took on new characteristics.
The first Duchy to be constituted, already in the aftermath of the conquest (569
569
Year 569 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 569 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* The King of the Garamantes signs...
), was the one of Friuli
Duchy of Friuli
The Duchy of Friuli was one of the great territorial Lombard duchies, the first to be established. It was an important buffer between the Lombard kingdom of Italy and the Slavs...
, and entrusted by Alboin to Gisulf
Gisulf I of Friuli
Gisulf I was probably the first duke of Friuli , a nephew of Alboin, first king of the Lombards in Italy. Alboin appointed him duke around 569 after the Lombard conquest of the region, though some scholars believe he appointed Gisulf's father, his brother, Grasulf, duke.Before this, Gisulf had been...
. Particular historic significance had the two duchies erected in central-southern Italy (the Langobardia Minor
Langobardia Minor
Langobardia Minor was the name that, in early Middle Ages, was given to the Lombard dominion in central-southern Italy, corresponding to the duchies of Spoleto and Benevento...
), Spoleto
Duchy of Spoleto
The independent Duchy of Spoleto was a Lombard territory founded about 570 in central Italy by the Lombard dux Faroald.- Lombards :The Lombards, a Germanic people, had invaded Italy in 568 and conquered much of it, establishing a Kingdom divided between several dukes dependent on the King, who had...
and Benevento
Duchy of Benevento
The Duchy and later Principality of Benevento was the southernmost Lombard duchy in medieval Italy, centred on Benevento, a city central in the Mezzogiorno. Owing to the Ducatus Romanus of the popes, which cut it off from the rest of Lombard Italy, Benevento was from the first practically...
, who often enjoyed broad autonomy within the Lombard Kingdom.
In the early years of the Lombard domination in Italy, the duchies were governed independently for a decade(Rule of the Dukes
Rule of the Dukes
The Rule of the Dukes was an interregnum in the Lombard Kingdom of Italy during which Italy was ruled by the Lombard dukes of the old Roman provinces and urban centres...
, 574
574
Year 574 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 574 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Emperor Justin II retires,...
-584
584
Year 584 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 584 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Fourth Turkic khagan Taspar dies. Interregnum...
), without a central king. Later on, in front of the inefficiency and dangerous military weakness of such fragmentation, the dukes came back to elect a king (Autari), but the relationship between central power and the duchies remained weak. Only with time, the centralization of royal power, at least in Langobardia Maior (north-central Italy), prevailed on the details of the duchies.
The duchy was for several Lombard nobles a "springboard" to the throne of Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
(among many examples, several stand out among the greatest among the kings of the Lombards: Autari, Agilulf
Agilulf
Agilulf called the Thuringian, was a duke of Turin and king of the Lombards from 591 until his death.-Biography:A relative of his predecessor Authari, he was selected king on the advice of the Christian queen and widow of Authari, Theodelinda, whom he then married...
, Rothari
Rothari
Rothari , of the house of Arodus, was king of the Lombards from 636 to 652; previously he had been duke of Brescia. He succeeded Arioald, who was an Arian like himself, and was one of the most energetic of Lombard kings...
, Grimoald
Grimoald I of Benevento
Grimoald I was duke of Benevento and king of the Lombards .Born probably before 610 to Duke Gisulf II of Friuli and the Bavarian princess Ramhilde, daughter of Duke Garibald I of Bavaria, he succeeded his brother Radoald as duke of Benevento...
, Rachis
Rachis
Rachis is a biological term for a main axis or "shaft".-In zoology:In vertebrates a rachis can refer to the series of articulated vertebrae, which encase the spinal cord. In this case the rachis usually form the supporting axis of the body and is then called the spine or vertebral column...
, Aistulf
Aistulf
Aistulf was the Duke of Friuli from 744, King of Lombards from 749, and Duke of Spoleto from 751. His father was the Duke Pemmo.After his brother Ratchis became king, Aistulf succeeded him in Friuli. He succeeded him later as king when Ratchis abdicated to a monastery...
, Desiderius
Desiderius
Desiderius was the last king of the Lombard Kingdom of northern Italy...
). Not always, however, the coup was successful, and the attempted usurpation ended with the death of the rebel Duke (Alahis
Alahis
Alahis was the Arian duke of Trent and Brescia before becoming king of the Lombards after his successful rebellion in 688. He did not rule long, however....
, Rotarit
Rotarit
Rotarit was a Lombard duke, the last Duke of Bergamo.In 700, fighting broke out over the succession of the just disappeared king, Cunipert , Rotarit stood in favor of his son, Liutpert, who was still underage, and his tutor Ansprand...
).
The Lombard duchies, both in Langobardia Maior as in Langobardia Minor, were not abolished with the fall in the realm (774
774
Year 774 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 774 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Charlemagne conquers the kingdom of the...
), but later became part of the Carolingian Empire
Carolingian Empire
Carolingian Empire is a historiographical term which has been used to refer to the realm of the Franks under the Carolingian dynasty in the Early Middle Ages. This dynasty is seen as the founders of France and Germany, and its beginning date is based on the crowning of Charlemagne, or Charles the...
. The only exception, the Duchy of Benevento
Duchy of Benevento
The Duchy and later Principality of Benevento was the southernmost Lombard duchy in medieval Italy, centred on Benevento, a city central in the Mezzogiorno. Owing to the Ducatus Romanus of the popes, which cut it off from the rest of Lombard Italy, Benevento was from the first practically...
soon be elevated to the rank of principality (but then also weakened by secessions), retained its autonomy and indeed played an important political role until the arrival of the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
(11th century).
List of Lombard duchies
- Duchy of FriuliDuchy of FriuliThe Duchy of Friuli was one of the great territorial Lombard duchies, the first to be established. It was an important buffer between the Lombard kingdom of Italy and the Slavs...
- Duchy of Ceneda
- Duchy of Treviso
- Duchy of Vicenza
- Duchy of Verona
- Duchy of Trent
- Duchy of Parma
- Duchy of Reggio
- Duchy of Piacenza
- Duchy of Brescia
- Duchy of Bergamo
- Duchy of San Giulio
- Duchy of Pavia
- Duchy of Turin
- Duchy of Asti
- Duchy of Tuscany
- Duchy of SpoletoDuchy of SpoletoThe independent Duchy of Spoleto was a Lombard territory founded about 570 in central Italy by the Lombard dux Faroald.- Lombards :The Lombards, a Germanic people, had invaded Italy in 568 and conquered much of it, establishing a Kingdom divided between several dukes dependent on the King, who had...
- Duchy of BeneventoDuchy of BeneventoThe Duchy and later Principality of Benevento was the southernmost Lombard duchy in medieval Italy, centred on Benevento, a city central in the Mezzogiorno. Owing to the Ducatus Romanus of the popes, which cut it off from the rest of Lombard Italy, Benevento was from the first practically...
, then the Principality of SalernoPrincipality of SalernoThe Lombard Principality of Salerno was a South Italian state, centered on the port city of Salerno, formed in 851 out of the Principality of Benevento after a decade-long civil war.... - Duchy of Aosta
- Duchy of Milan
- Duchy of Ivrea
Sources
- Paul DeaconPaul DeaconPaul Deacon is a retired rugby league footballer. He previously played for Bradford Bulls from 1998 until joining his hometown club Wigan Warriors in 2010...
, Historia Langobardorum (Storia dei Longobardi, Lorenzo Valla/Mondadori, Milan 1992)
See also
- Duke (Lombard)Duke (Lombard)Among the Lombards, the duke or dux was the man who act as political and military commander of a set of "military families" , irrespective of any territorial appropriation.-Etymology:...
- Fara (Lombard)
- LombardsLombardsThe Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
- Lombard Kingdom