Adalbert of Italy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adalbert |
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Adalbert depicted in a 12th-century manuscript
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| King of Italy | |
| Reign | 950–961 |
| Predecessor | Lothair II |
| Successor | Otto I |
| Born | c. 932/936 |
| Died | c. 971/975 Autun, Burgundy |
| Spouse | Gerberga |
| Issue | Otto-William |
| House | Anscarids |
| Father | Berengar II of Italy |
| Mother | Willa of Tuscany |
Adalbert was a king of Italy. He ruled from 950 to 961. He shared the throne with his father, Berengar II. Adalbert was born around 932-936 and died around 971-975. After they lost their power, Adalbert still tried to be king. But he was defeated by Otto I's army in 965. He is sometimes called Adalbert II. This is because he was the second person named Adalbert in his family, the Anscarids. Sometimes, his name is shortened to Albert.
Becoming King of Italy
Adalbert was born between 932 and 936. His father was Berengar, who was a powerful noble called the margrave of Ivrea. His mother was Willa, whose father Boso was also a margrave.
In 950, Adalbert and his father were chosen by the important nobles. They were chosen to become the new kings after King Lothair II of Italy died. They were both crowned kings together. This happened in the basilica of Saint Michael in Pavia on December 15.
Berengar tried to make Lothair's widow, Adelaide, marry Adalbert. This would have made their claim to the throne stronger. But Adelaide refused to marry Adalbert. She ran away to Canossa. She was found and kept prisoner for four months in Como.
German Invasion and Conflicts
In 951, Otto I of Germany, who was the King of Germany, invaded Italy. He forced Adelaide to be set free. Then, he married her himself. But Otto did not try to remove Adalbert and Berengar from power right away.
Instead, Adalbert and Berengar had to go to a big meeting in Germany. This meeting was called the Diet of Augsburg. It happened in August 952. There, Otto officially gave them the Kingdom of Italy. This meant Italy was now under Germany's control.
Between 953 and 956, Adalbert and Berengar attacked Count Adalbert Azzo of Canossa. This was the castle where Adelaide had hidden in 951. In 956, Liudolf, who was Otto's son, came to Italy. He brought a large army to show his father's power. Adalbert gathered a big army to fight him. Adalbert defeated Liudolf. But Liudolf died in September 957 before he could go back to Germany.
After this victory, Adalbert continued fighting. He was helped by Duke Hugh of Tuscany. They fought against Duke Theobald II of Spoleto. In 960, Adalbert's forces even entered the area around Rome.
Pope John XII asked the King of Germany for help against Adalbert. Otto entered Italy again in 961. Adalbert gathered a large army in Verona. Some old writings say it was 60,000 soldiers. But this was probably a huge exaggeration. Many important noble families would only join if Berengar gave up his throne to Adalbert. Berengar refused to do this. So, Adalbert could not effectively stop the German invasion.
Otto marched easily to Milan. He was crowned king there by Archbishop Walbert in November. From Milan, he went to Rome. There, he was crowned emperor by the Pope on February 3, 962. Adalbert and Berengar went into hiding.
Life in Exile
After Otto became emperor, he attacked the castles that were loyal to Adalbert and Berengar. In late 962, Adalbert left Italy. He found safety with the Arabs in Fraxinetum. This was in southern Burgundy. From there, he went to Corsica.
From Corsica, Adalbert started talking with Pope John XII. They planned to work together against Otto. Adalbert sailed back to Italy. He landed in Civitavecchia. The Pope's helpers met him there and took him to Rome. Otto had already made Berengar surrender. Then, Otto marched towards Rome. After a short fight, Adalbert and the Pope ran away.
Adalbert went back to Corsica for his second exile. He did not try to get Italy back until Otto had gone north of the Alps. When Adalbert finally returned in 965, he tried to take Pavia. Pavia was the capital of Italy. But he was defeated by another army from Swabia. This time, the army was led by Duke Burchard III. On June 25, Burchard defeated Adalbert in a battle. This battle was between Parma and Piacenza. Adalbert's brothers fought with him. Conrad, the count of Milan, had first made peace with Otto. Guy, the margrave of Ivrea, died in the fighting.
Adalbert failed in his second try to get his kingdom back. He then started talking with the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire was worried about Otto's plans for southern Italy. When these talks failed, Adalbert went to live with his wife, Gerberga, in her family's lands in Burgundy.
Adalbert died in Autun. This was either on April 30, 971, or sometime between 972 and 975. Adalbert and Gerberga had one son, Otto-William. He was born by 962. After Adalbert died, Gerberga married Henry I, Duke of Burgundy. Henry adopted Otto-William. This made Otto-William a possible heir to the Duchy of Burgundy. Otto-William was even offered the Italian crown later, but he did not accept it.
Sixteen official documents from Adalbert's reign still exist. They were issued jointly with his father. Three documents were issued by Adalbert alone. Berengar and Adalbert also had silver coins called denarii made in Pavia.
See also
In Spanish: Adalberto II de Ivrea para niños
