Desiderius facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Desiderius
A gold tremissis of Desiderius minted at Lucca
King of the Lombards
Reign	756–774
Predecessor	Aistulf
Successor	Charlemagne
Born	720 AD
Died	786 AD (aged 65–66)
Consort	Ansa
Issue	Desiderata Anselperga Adelperga Liutperga Adelchis
House	Lombardy

Desiderius, also known as Daufer or Dauferius, was a powerful king of the Lombards. He ruled northern Italy from 756 to 774 AD. Desiderius was born around 720 AD and died around 786 AD. He is famous for being the last Lombard king to rule a large area. His story is also linked to the famous Frankish king, Charlemagne. Charlemagne married Desiderius's daughter. Later, Charlemagne conquered Desiderius's kingdom.

Becoming King of the Lombards

Desiderius was born in Brescia, a city in Italy. He started as a royal officer. This meant he worked for the king. He became the dux (a leader) of Tuscia. In 756 AD, the previous king, Aistulf, died. Desiderius then became king.

Aistulf's old predecessor, Ratchis, tried to take the throne. Ratchis had left his monastery at Montecassino. But Desiderius quickly stopped his attempt. He had help from Pope Stephen II. When Desiderius became king, he made a promise. He said he would give back many towns to the Holy See (the Pope's government). He even promised to make the Pope's land bigger.

Securing His Power

By 757 AD, Desiderius worked to make his rule strong. He took action to stop people who resisted him. This happened in the powerful areas of Spoleto and Benevento. These were in central and southern Italy.

A leader named Liutprand, the Duke of Benevento, did not like Desiderius. He even threatened to seek protection from Pippin. Pippin was a powerful Frankish king. Desiderius got help from the Byzantine navy. He stopped Liutprand's challenge. Desiderius then gave Liutprand's duchy to his son, Arechis.

In the same year, Desiderius removed Alboin of Spoleto from power. Desiderius then took control of Spoleto himself. Like kings before him, he wanted to make Lombard power grow in Italy. This led to problems with the Pope and the southern duchies. In August 759 AD, Desiderius made his son Adelchis a co-king of Lombardy.

Problems with the Papacy

Desiderius visited Rome and prayed at St. Peter's tomb. After this, he went back to expanding his kingdom. He even talked with the Byzantine Empire. This plan would have weakened the Pope's power. It would also have meant the Pope lost more land in Rome.

Around 760 AD, messengers from Pippin convinced Desiderius. They asked him to return some cities he had captured to the Pope. But Desiderius did not keep his promises.

Appointing a New Pope

After Pope Paul I died in 767 AD, there was a crisis. Desiderius got involved. On July 31, 768 AD, he took a priest named Philip. Philip was from a monastery in Rome. Desiderius quickly made Philip the new Pope.

This new Pope, Antipope Philip, was not accepted by many. He did not gain much support. So, he left the same day. He went back to his monastery. No one heard from him again.

Charlemagne's Intervention

Earlier, Pippin had fought against Desiderius's predecessors in Italy. Pippin's campaigns were successful. Because of this, relations between the Pope and the Lombards were tense. The Pope was allied with the Carolingians (Charlemagne's family).

In 773 AD, Pope Hadrian openly broke ties with King Desiderius. Desiderius then moved his army against the Pope's cities. Pope Hadrian immediately asked Charlemagne for help. The Lombards had blocked the mountain passes through the Alps. So, Pope Hadrian had to send his messengers by sea. They were told to remind Charlemagne that he protected the Pope.

Charlemagne's Marriage and Alliance

At first, Charlemagne was friendly with the Lombards. He had married Desiderius’s daughter, Desiderata. Pope Stephen III did not like this alliance. But he tried to keep good relations with both kings.

However, Stephen III died in February 772 AD. Then, Pope Hadrian became Pope. Hadrian wanted to break this alliance. He took steps to make Desiderius angry. These actions were designed to make Desiderius attack the Pope. This way, Hadrian could ask the Franks for help.

Charlemagne agreed to help the Pope. The death of Charlemagne’s brother, Carloman I, also changed things. Carloman's widow and children had gone to Desiderius for safety. It was said that Desiderius planned to name Carloman's son as the next Frankish ruler. Some historians think this claim might have been false. It could have been spread by the Pope. This would ensure Charlemagne helped against the Lombards.

The Fall of the Lombard Kingdom

In the spring of 773 AD, Charlemagne sent two Frankish armies. They marched against the Lombards. After an eight-month siege, Charlemagne captured Pavia. This was the Lombard capital. He also captured Desiderius himself.

Charlemagne sent Desiderius away to the Corbie Abbey in northern France. Charlemagne was already "king of the Franks." He then added the title "and of the Lombards." This was the first time a Germanic king took the title of a kingdom he had conquered.

Charlemagne had the power to completely destroy the Lombards. But he allowed them to keep their laws. He also forgave those who had been against him. In the end, Desiderius's desire for more power led to the end of the Lombard kingdom. He was the last Lombard king in history.

Family Life

Desiderius married a woman named Ansa. They had one son and five daughters:

• Anselperga (also Anselberga), who was an abbess. An abbess is the head of a monastery for nuns. She led the San Salvatore monastery in Brescia.
• Adelperga (also Adelberga), who married Arechis II of Benevento.
• Liutperga (also Liutpirc or Liutberga), who married Tassilo III of Bavaria.
• Desiderata, who married Charlemagne in 770 AD. She was later divorced in 771 AD.
• Gerperga (also Gerberga), who married Carloman, Charlemagne's brother.
• Adelchis (also Adalgis), who was a patrician in Constantinople. A patrician was a high-ranking official.

Legacy of Desiderius

Even today, Desiderius's story is important in Italy. The beautiful monastic church of San Salvatore in Brescia still stands. It shows the amazing Lombard architecture. Desiderius had this church built.

His name in Italian is "Desiderio." This word means "desire" in English. A famous Italian writer, Alessandro Manzoni, wrote a play called Adelchi in 1822. In this play, Desiderius is shown as a proud man. He destroys his kingdom because he wants more power. His son, Adelchi (also called Adalgis), is torn between his father's wishes and his desire for peace. He dies from starvation in the play. Manzoni, the author, wished that Desiderius and the Lombards had united Italy.

The famous poet Dante Alighieri also mentioned Desiderius. In his work Paradiso, Dante calls Desiderius the "Lombard tooth." This means he was like a "snake" who hurt the Holy Church. But then, Charlemagne defeated him.

See also

In Spanish: Desiderio para niños