Aistulf

Type Figure Region Northern Italy Time c. 712–756 Also known as Aistulf、Aistulph、Astolfo

Aistulf (c. 712–756), the last expansionist Lombard king (r. 749–756), took Ravenna in 751 and was twice defeated by Pepin the Short.

Timeline

c. 712–749Cividale del Friuli · Friuli-Venezia GiuliaAistulf was the son of Pemmo, Duke of Friuli. His brother Ratchis became king of the Lombards in 744 but abdicated voluntarily in 749 to become a monk. Aistulf was then chosen to succeed him, bringing extensive military experience and a strong will to expand.
749–752Ravenna · Emilia-RomagnaAfter acceding in 749, Aistulf quickly began military expansion. In 751 he took Ravenna, destroying the Exarchate of Ravenna, the last major Byzantine foothold in north-central Italy, and incorporated it into the Lombard realm. This alarmed the Roman curia; Popes Zachary and Stephen II protested diplomatically in turn but could not stop Aistulf's expansion.
752–756Pavia · LombardyFrom 752 Aistulf turned against Rome and demanded a head tax from its inhabitants, prompting Pope Stephen II to travel to the Franks in 753 to seek help from Pepin the Short. In 754 Pepin led an army across the Alps, defeated Aistulf, and forced him to agree to return occupied lands, but Aistulf then broke the agreement and attacked Rome again. In 756 Pepin campaigned a second time and again besieged Pavia; Aistulf was forced to sign the Treaty of Pavia, ceding Ravenna and other lands to the Roman Church. This was the Donation of Pepin, on which the territory of the Papal States was founded. That same year Aistulf died in a hunting accident near Pavia.