Desiderius

Desiderius, also called Daufer or Dauferius, lived a long time ago, born around the year 720 and passing away around 786. He was the king of the Lombards, a group of people who lived in northern Italy. He ruled from 756 until 774.

Desiderius is most remembered because he had a daughter who later married a very famous king named Charlemagne. Because of this family connection, Charlemagne decided to take control of the Lombard lands, ending Desiderius's rule. Desiderius was the last Lombard king to rule in that way over the region.

Rise to power

Desiderius was born in Brescia and became king of the Lombards after the death of Aistulf in 756. Before that, he was a leader in Tuscia. When another king, Ratchis, tried to take control, Desiderius stopped him with help from Pope Stephen II.

Desiderius worked hard to keep his power. He made sure leaders in Italy followed his rules and even made his son co-king in 759. He also tried to get more land, but sometimes had to give some back to the Holy See.

Appointing Antipope Philip

When Pope Paul I died in 767, there was a big problem about who should be the new pope. King Desiderius took a priest named Philip from a monastery in Rome and quickly made him pope on July 31, 768. But most people did not accept Philip as pope, so he left that same day and went back to his monastery. After that, no one heard from or saw Philip again.

Main article: Antipope Philip

Carolingian Intervention

In 773, Pope Hadrian had a disagreement with King Desiderius of the Lombards. When Desiderius threatened the papal cities, the Pope asked Charlemagne, the Frankish king, for help. Charlemagne had been married to Desiderius’s daughter, but agreed to support the Pope.

In the spring of 773, Charlemagne led armies against the Lombards. After an eight-month siege, he captured the Lombard capital, Pavia, and took Desiderius prisoner. Charlemagne exiled Desiderius to a monastery in France and took control of the Lombard lands, calling himself "king of the Franks and of the Lombards." He allowed the Lombards to keep their laws and pardoned those who had opposed him. Desiderius was the last Lombard king.

Family

Desiderius married Ansa and they had a son and four daughters. His daughters included Anselperga, who became abbess of a monastery in Brescia, and Desiderata, who married Charlemagne for a short time. The other daughters also married into important families. Their son, Adelchis, became a leader in Constantinople.

Legacy

Desiderius left a lasting mark in Italy. He built the beautiful monastic church of San Salvatore in Brescia, which still stands today as an example of Lombard architecture. In Italian, his name, "Desiderio," means "desire."

In a famous play called Adelchi by Alessandro Manzoni, Desiderius is shown as a person who let his wish for power ruin his kingdom. The play also tells the story of his son Adelchi (also named Adalgis), who struggles between following his father and wanting peace. In another famous book by Dante Alighieri, Desiderius is mentioned as someone who caused trouble for the Holy Church but was later defeated by Charlemagne.