Lombard conquest The Duchy of Spoleto emerged during the
Lombard expansion into central Italy in the late 6th century. Its origins are traditionally placed during the reign of
Alboin, around 571. An alternative chronology places the foundation of the duchy after the failed Byzantine offensive of 575–576 led by
Baduarius. Following this defeat
Faroald I and associated Lombard groups established control, placing the foundation of the duchy a few years later. Ariulf made frequent expeditions against the Byzantines (in 579–592 against Ravenna and in 592 against Rome). After Ariulf's death in 602, a succession dispute arose among the sons of Faroald I. The eldest,
Theodelap, prevailed in battle and became duke. He is believed to have died around 650, though some sources place his death in 653. He was then obliged by
Liutprand, King of the Lombards to restore it, a measure of the loose central control of Lombard rule that Liutprand was occupied in tightening, at least as Paul interpreted events for his
Frankish patrons.
Dukedom of Transamund II Transamund II, son of Faroald II, rebelled against him and in 724 forced him to abdicate and take monastic vows at the monastery of San Pietro in Ferentillo, where he died in 728. Some, however, believe that Faroald II abdicated voluntarily. After the death of Louis II, Lambert I was restored to power by Emperor
Charles II the Bald. Suppo received other duchies in compensation. Lambert withdrew to Camerino and left Spoleto to his brother Guy II. In 877, acting against Charles II and allied with Alberic, count of Tusculum, Lambert seized Rome and imposed recognition of
Carloman as imperial claimant. He and his allies were excommunicated by the pope, and Charles II declared him banished from the empire; the
Council of Troyes in 878 confirmed the excommunication. Lambert I died around 879 and was succeeded by
Guy II, who reunited the dukedom. After falling out of favor with Emperor
Charles III, influenced by Popes
John VIII and
Martin II, he was banished from the empire, but later regained imperial favor and was pardoned in 885. Guy died in 888 and, following the extinction of the male line of Charlemagne, was designated emperor by
Pope Stephen V. Italy was then divided between factions supporting Berengar and Guy II; Guy’s side prevailed after Berengar was defeated at Piacenza and Verona and left Italy. In 894
Guy IV received the Duchy of Spoleto from his father. In the same year Emperor Guy II died near the river
Taro and was succeeded by Lambert II, who had already been associated with him. Lambert II died in 898, killed by count Hugh.
10th-century turmoil and territorial changes The dukes of Spoleto continued to intervene in the violent politics of Rome.
Alberic I, Duke of
Camerino (897), and afterwards of Spoleto, married the notorious Roman noblewoman
Marozia, mistress of
Pope Sergius III (904–911), and was killed by the Romans in 924. During the rule of Alberic I the
Sabina was separated from the Duchy of Spoleto. His son
Alberic II overthrew the
senatrix in 932 though her son, his half-brother, was
Pope John XII. In 922 the duchy was held by
Boniface I, husband of Waldrada, sister of Emperor
Hugh of Provence. In 929 he was succeeded by
Theobald, who supported
Landulf I, duke of Benevento, and achieved a victory over Byzantine forces during a siege. About 949, the Frankish King
Berengar II of Italy took Spoleto from the margrave, diminished the size of the duchy, and set aside territory that would become the
March of Fermo. At that time, Emperor
Otto I detached from the Duchy of Spoleto the lands called
Sabina Langobardica and presented them to the Holy See. Now the control of Spoleto became increasingly a gift of the emperors. In 967, Otto briefly united the Duchy of Spoleto with that of
Principality of Capua and
Benevento, which was then ruled by
Pandulf Ironhead. After Pandulf's death in 981, the joint principality of Spoleto, Capua and Benevento was partitioned amongst the sons of Pandulf, who fought endlessly to gain supremacy.
Landulf IV gained Spoleto, Capua, and Benevento, while
Pandulf II received Salerno. Then in 989
Otto III detached Spoleto and granted it to
Hugh, Margrave of Tuscany. Later in December 998, Otto appointed
Adhemar of Capua as the duke of Spoleto. Adhemar ruled four years until the duchy was united a second time with
Tuscany in 1003. Emperor
Henry II transferred the remaining part of the Duchy of Spoleto to the Roman Church in exchange for other Church properties beyond the mountains. In 1056
Pope Victor II obtained the remaining possession of the duchy and the
March of Fermo from the emperor. In 1057
Godfrey, duke of Lorraine, held the duchy, followed by
Godfrey the Hunchback, husband of
Matilda of Tuscany, who appears in documents as duchess of Spoleto and Camerino. After his death, Matilda ruled her territories, transferred them to the Church, and died in 1115. Emperor
Henry IV frequently visited the Duchy of Spoleto and held assemblies there. Dukes continued to be appointed with the support of German rulers. The first of these was
Guarnerius, marquis of the
March of Ancona.
Destruction of Spoleto In 1155 the city of Spoleto underwent a devastating destruction at the hands of Emperor
Frederick Barbarossa. After proceeding to Rome and being crowned by
Pope Adrian IV following a solemn oath of fidelity, the emperor received tribute from the province of Ancona and many other Umbrian cities. The Duchy of Spoleto alone resisted payment of this tribute. Enraged, Frederick ordered the city to be destroyed. Spoleto was razed to its foundations. The emperor himself recounted that the city, fortified with a hundred towers, was captured by fire and sword, and left in total desolation. In 1174
Christian,
archbishop of Mainz and imperial chancellor, entered the Duchy of Spoleto with force and brought it under imperial control. Afterward Frederick sought reconciliation with the city and appointed
Conrad of Swabia, lord of
Urslingen, as duke. He granted possessions to the monastery of San Pietro in Monte Martano and, in 1185, through the intercession of the duke, donated valuable relics to the cathedral of Spoleto, which were received by the citizens as pledges of restored peace.
Integration into the Papal States With the death of
Henry VI, son of Frederick, the line of dukes came to an end. In his testament he ordered that the Duchy of Spoleto, along with other dominions, be restored to the Holy See.
Pope Innocent III of the
Conti family moved to reclaim these territories, expelling Conrad of Swabia. Conrad restored the duchy to avoid excommunication. In 1198 Innocent III personally visited Spoleto. Cardinal Giovanni Colonna the Younger was appointed
rector of the duchy and governed it for three years. Emperor
Otto IV, claiming lands of the Church, appointed
Dipold as duke of Spoleto, followed by
Rainald, who continued usurpations of Church property and was imprisoned by
Frederick II. In 1223 Cardinal
Raniero Capocci served as rector or legate of the March of Ancona and the Duchy of Spoleto. He faced opposition from
Berthold, son of Duke Conrad, whose actions led to papal excommunication. Frederick II, hostile to the Church and in conflict with
Pope Honorius III, levied troops in the duchy in 1226, but the Spoletans refused to assist. In that same year Berthold assumed the title of duke, supported by Frederick II. Various leaders of the
Ghibelline faction subsequently assumed the title of duke, while the Spoletans also applied the title by custom to papal rectors. Conrad is regarded as the last true duke of Spoleto. From this time onward the popes governed the duchy through a rector, who delegated authority to local lieutenants. Gregory IX granted the administration of the March of Ancona and the Duchy of Spoleto for three years to
Milo,
bishop of Beauvais. The pope himself resided in the region on several occasions, including in 1228 and 1232 at Rieti, Spoleto, and Perugia. == Geography ==