Alberic I of Spoleto facts for kids

Alberic I (died around 925) was an important leader from the Lombard people. He was the Duke of Spoleto from about 896 to 920. He was also the Margrave of Camerino. Alberic became the son-in-law of Theophylact I, Count of Tusculum, who was a very powerful person in Rome at that time.

Early Life and Rise to Power

Alberic first appears in history as a young assistant, called a page, to Guy III of Spoleto. This was during a battle near the Trebbia River in 889. Later, Alberic became the Duke of Spoleto. He took control of Spoleto after Duke Guy IV was no longer in power.

King Berengar I quickly recognized Alberic as the new Duke. Alberic and King Berengar fought together against the Magyars around 899 or 900.

Family and Influence in Rome

Alberic's power grew when he formed an alliance with Theophylact. Theophylact was a very influential leader in Rome. He was in charge of soldiers for Emperor Louis III. Theophylact stayed in Rome after the emperor left in 902. He played a big part in changing who was in charge of the Church in 904.

Together, Alberic and Theophylact helped Pope Sergius III become the new Pope. Under Pope Sergius, Theophylact gained even more control over Rome. He managed important appointments and supervised the soldiers. Theophylact was married to Theodora. They had two daughters, Marozia and Theodora.

In 909, Alberic married Marozia, Theophylact's daughter. This marriage was very helpful for Alberic. It connected him to the powerful Tusculani family. Because of this, he received the special title of "patrician of the Romans." This meant he was a high-ranking leader in Rome.

Battles and Achievements

Even though Alberic supported Pope Sergius, he later joined forces with his neighbor, Adalbert II, the Margrave of Tuscany. This happened around 906. They worked together to stop King Berengar from reaching Rome. Berengar had planned to be crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope.

Alberic was a key leader in the Christian League. This group fought against the Saracens (Muslim forces) in the famous Battle of the Garigliano in June 915. Alberic led his own troops from Spoleto and Camerino. They joined forces with many other leaders, including:

• Pope John X and his soldiers
• Adalbert of Tuscany
• Nicholas Picingli, a Byzantine general
• Various Lombard and Greek princes from Southern Italy, like Guaimar II of Salerno and Landulf I of Benevento

Even King Berengar sent soldiers to help. The battle was a great success. Many leaders received special honors for their bravery. Alberic was given the title "consul of the Romans" in 917.

Later Years and Legacy

After his victories, Alberic became very powerful in Rome. However, he started to act like a ruler who had too much control. Because of this, the people of Rome and the Pope decided to remove him from power. He was later killed in a place called Orte between 924 and 926. It is thought that his reliance on Hungarian fighters, who helped him keep his power, might have led to his downfall. The exact dates of his rise and fall are not fully clear.

Alberic and Marozia had several children:

• Pope John XI (born 910)
• Alberic II, who later became a prince in Rome
• Constantino (died after January 14, 945)
• Sergio, who became a bishop
• David or Deodatus, who was the father of Pope Benedict VII

They also had at least one daughter. Her marriage was planned to connect their family with the Byzantine emperor Romanos I Lekapenos.

Some historical writers, like Liutprand of Cremona, have suggested that Marozia's first son, who became Pope John XI, was not Alberic's son. However, other historians say this claim is doubtful and likely came from people who disliked the family.

See also

In Spanish: Alberico I de Spoleto para niños