PART II
HISTORIA LANGOBARDORUM CODICIS GOTHANI [..., p. 50-]
HISTORY OF THE LOMBARDS OF GOTHA’S CODEX
1. The ancient forefathers of the Lombards assert that their exodus, movements, and journey took place through their ancestress Gambara [1] and that their forefathers, a rough and bloody and lawless progeny, of small number, originated from snakes.
They came into the land of Italy, where milk and honey flow, [2] and, what is more important, they found the salvation of baptism there. Receiving the marks of the Holy Trinity, they were included in the number of the good. In them was fulfilled the saying: "Sin is not imputed where there is no law." [3]
At first they were ravening wolves, afterwards they became lambs feeding in the Lord’s flock. For this reason great praise and thanks must be given to God who raised them from the dunghill and set them in the number of the just in order to fulfill the prophecy of David: "He raised the poor man from the dunghill, and made him to sit with the princes of his people.” [4]
So asserted the above-mentioned Gambara, who traveled with them, not prophesying things which she did not know, but speaking like a pythoness, which is one of the names of the Sybil, not knowing anything else than what she learned through divination. The Lombards were in fact undertaking a divine journey so that the thorn could be turned into a rose. [5]
She asserted that they had left not out of necessity, nor hardness of heart, nor because their parents were oppressive, but to obtain salvation from on high. [6]
For everybody it is a wonderful and unheard-of thing to see that, where there was no merit in their parents, such salvation shone forth that they found the perfumes of the churches among the sharp points of the thorns.
As the compassionate Son of God had preached before, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” [7] These were the ones of whom the Savior Himself spoke in the parables to the Jews: “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold, and it is appropriate that I take them to seek the living water.” [8]
2. Here begins the origin, birth or rather descent of the Lombards, their exodus and their settlements, the wars and devastation their kings carried out, and the countries they devastated.
1. Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 1, and Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II, a, narrate that Gambara was the mother of Ibor and Aio, the two young warriors who led the first migrations of the Winili/Lombards.
2. A clear allusion to the Promised Land of the Jews. See Exod. 3: 8 and Deut. 11: 9. A similar, but less explicit, depiction of Italy can be found in Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II, 8. Cf. Luiselli, Storia culturale, p. 723, and Cingolani, Le storie dei Longobardi, p. 52.
3. Rom. 5: 13.
4. Ps. 112: 7-8.
5. Paul the Deacon explains that Gambara was «a woman of the keenest ability and most prudent in counsel among her people, and they trusted not a little to her shrewdness in doubtful matter,» but he does not say anything about her prophetic abilities. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 3. Stefano Cingolani hypothesizes that the reference in Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 1. to other causes leading to the migration of the Winili/Lombards could be explained by the existence of another version of those events which was written down in the HLCG. Cingolani, Le storie dei Longobardi, p. 48. Some similarities with the HLCG can be found in the work of an eleventh-century author, Benzo of Alba, Ad Heinricum IV imperatorem, IV, 3. Cf. Cingolani, Le storie dei Longobardi, pp. 59-60.
6. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 3, recounts that the Winili left their land because it was overpopulated.
7. Matt. 9: 13.
8. John 10: 16.
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Vindilicus is a river which lies on Gaul’s extreme boundary; their first dwellings and possessions were near to this river. [9] At first their name was Winili, [10] which was the same as that of their ancestors, but, as Jerome [11] asserts, they later changed their name to the common word Lombards because of their long and never-shaven beards. [12] The abovementioned river Ligurius flows into the channels of the river Elbe and loses its name.
Alter the Lombards left from that shore, as has been said before, they made their new home at first at Scatenauge on the banks of the river Elbe; then they went fighting into the country of the Saxons, in the place called Patespruna, [13] where, as our ancient fathers assert, they dwelt for a long time and brought war and destruction to many places.
Here, they raised over them their first king, whose name was Agelmund. [14] Under him, they left that area and began to conquer their homeland; then, they led the army against the Beovinidis [15] and seized them at the sound of trumpets.
The remains of the house and dwelling of their King Wacho can still he seen today.
Then, needing a more fertile country, they went into the province of Thrace and decided to settle in the territory of the city of Pannonia. [16] Here, striving against the Avars, the Lombards waged many wars against them with most ardent courage and conquered Pannonia. The Avars then made a treaty with them and it is recounted that the Lombards lived there for twenty-two years. [17]
3. At that time King Odovacer [18] left Ravenna with an army of Alans, [19] went to Rugiland, fought with the Rugians, and killed the King of the Rugians, Fewan, and brought many captives with him to Italy. [20]
Then the Lombards left Pannonia, went to Rugiland, [21] lived there for many years, and subjugated it.
9. According to Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I. 7, the first region the Winili moved to was Scoringa, where they met the Vandals.
10. It is believed that Winili means «fighters.» Jarnut, Geschichte der Langobarden, p. 10. Gasparri, La cultura tradizionale, pp. 11 22. hypothesizes that this term might also stand for «mad, furious, victorious dogs» and that it would refer to some Germanic beliefs about warriors possessing superhuman characteristics.
11. In reality, it was Isidore of Seville, who, immediately after mentioning the Lombards, talks about the river Vindilicus, indicated as the land of the Vandals. The author of HLCG confused the Winili Lombards with the Vandals. Cingolani, Le storie dei Longobardi, p. 55.
12. Paul the Deacon, too, mentions this etymology and the detail that the Lombards did not shave their beards. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 9. For an analysis of the name change, see Gasparri, La cultura tradizionale, pp. 12-27, 33-37; Cingolani, Le storie dei Longobardi, pp. 37-55; Coumert, Origines des Peuples, pp. 145-176.
13. It is probably Paderborn. Cf. Cingolani, Le storie dei Longobardi, pp. 55-56, and Coumert, Origines des Peuples, p. 257.
14. Agelmund is indicated as the first king of the Lombards also in the prologue of the laws issued by the Lombard king Rothari (Edictum Rothari, p. 14); Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 2; Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 14, who reports that, after leaving Scoringa, the Lombards went to Mauringa and Colanda. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 10-13.
15. Jörg Jarnut believes that by Beovinidis, who are mentioned in ch. 11 as well, the author meant the Bohemians, while Magali Coumert thinks that this is a reference to the Slavic population of the Winides. If so, this would be an anachronism as in that period the Slavs had not yet arrived in that region. Jarnut, I Longobardi nell’epoca precedente, p. 21; Coumert, Origines des peuples, p. 259.
16. It corresponds roughly to present-day Hungary.
17. Before narrating the episode concerning Odovacer, Paul the Deacon reports that the Lombards fought against the Bulgarians. After a terrible defeat in which Agelmund was killed, the Lombards elected a new king, Lamissio, who led his people to victory. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I. 16-17. It is believed that the Lombards’ enemies were the Huns and that these clashes took place in about the 440s. Christie, The Lombards, pp. 14-16.
18. After deposing the emperor of the western Roman Empire, Romulus Augustus, in 476, Odovacer ruled Italy until 489.
19. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 19, does not mention the presence of Alans in Odovacer’s army.
20. This part is copied almost verbatim from Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 3. For description of the battles, see Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 19.
21. The Lombards moved to Rugiland in 488. Jarnut, I Longobardi nell’epoca precedente, pp. 21 -23.
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4. Godoin reigned before Pero. [22]
Claffo held the leadership of the Lombards after Pero. [23]
And Tatto reigned after Claffo.
In that time the Lombards went back to the fields of Filda. [24] They stayed there for three years. [25] And after that Tatto fought with the King of the Heruls, Rodulf, killed him, took his banner, and put his people to flight. There he looted all their possessions. Afterwards the Heruls no longer had a king. [26]
Then Wacho, son of Unichis, [27] killed his uncle, King Tatto, with Vinsilane. [28] So Wacho reigned and defeated Heldechis, son of Tatto; and Heldechis took refuge among the Gepids and died there. The Gepids committed a shameful act against the Lombards to avenge the insult. [29]
In that time Wacho subjugated the Sueves to the rule of the Lombards. [30] Wacho had three wives: Ranigunda, daughter of the King of the Thuringians, Pisen; [31] and after her, he took a wife named Austrecusa, daughter of the King of the Gepids. From them Wacho had two daughters. The name of the first was Wisicharda whom he gave in marriage to the King of the Franks, Theudebert. [32] The name of the second was Walderada, whom the King of the Franks, Chusubald, [33] had as wife. Afterwards Wacho took a third wife, the daughter of the king of the Heruls, whose name was Silenga. From her he had a son named Walthari. [34] Wacho died and his son, named Walthari, reigned for seven years. He had no descendants. [35] All these were Adelingi. [36]
5. And Audoin reigned after Walthari. The mother of Audoin, whose name was Menia, [37] was the wife of King Pisen. [38] Audoin was of the Gausi family. He took the Lombards to Pannonia. And Audoin died in Pannonia.
His son Alboin reigned in his place. His mother was Rodelenda.
22. The HLCG is the only source that mentions Godoin and Peru.
23. In Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 4, and in Edictum Rothari, p. 14, Claffo succeeds Godeoc.
24. According to Paul the Deacon, the Lombards «departed from Rugiland, and dwelt in open fields, which are called ‘feld’ in the barbarian longue.» Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 20. Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 4, reports «in campis Feld.» They are probably referring to Marchfeld, an area east of Vienna, Jarnut, Geschichte der Langobarden, p. 19.
25. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 20, relates this detail as well.
26. «And Tatto reigned [...] no longer had a king.» A similar account can be found in Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 4. After this defeat, the Heruls ceased to exist as a distinct people, Jarnut, Geschichte der Langobarden, pp. 20-21. For a description of this war, see Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 20.
27. Zuchilo in Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 4, and in Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 21.
28. Paul the Deacon does not mention Vinsilane.
29. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 21, says only that «for this reason the Gepids from that time incurred enmities with the Lombards.»
30. This particular is recounted also by Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 21.
31. Fisud in Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 4.
32. Theudebert (533-548).
33. Scusuald in Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 4. In reality his name was Theudebald (548-555). See the genealogical table in Wood, The Merovingian Kingdoms, p. 344.
34. These particulars can be found also in Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 21, who, however, does not mention the name of the Thuringian king and adds that, after a while, the king of the Franks, Chusabald, began to hate his wife and therefore gave her to one of his men.
35. Farigaidus in Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 4. For further information about this term, see the introduction (p. 33), and Meli, Eco scandinave, p. 349.
36. Lihingi in Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 4, and in Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I, 21. This dynasty was created by the Lombard king, Lethi, who had ruled at the beginning of the fifth century. Jarnut, Geschichte der Langobarden, p. 29.
37. Neither the Origo nor Paul the Deacon mention Menia.
38. He is the king of the Thuringians mentioned in HLCG, ch. 4.
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At that time Alboin fought with the king of the Gepids, whose name was Cunimund. Album killed him in that battle and the Gepids were very heavily defeated. [39] King Alboin then took a wife named Rosemund, daughter of Cunimund, whom he had killed; Alboin had captured her. Before her, he had a wife named Ludusenda, [40] who was the daughter of the King of the Franks, Chlothar, [41] and from whom he had a daughter named Albsuinda. [42]
Invited by the proconsul [43] and governor of Italy, Narses, who was terrorized because of queen Sophia’s threats, [44] this Alboin moved the Lombards and took them to Italy.
In the time when the Lombards began to leave Pannonia, the Avars made a pact and an agreement ot friendship with the Lombards and had a document written down according to which, if, for the following two hundred years, the Lombards would need Pannonia, the Avars would leave them their part of that land without any war, and for two hundred years the Avars would he ready to help the Lombards in Italy where the Lombards were going. [45]
And the King of the Lombards, Alboin, left Pannonia with his very large army in the month of April, at Easter, during the first indiction; [46] at the beginning of the second indiction, they began to sack Italy and during the third Alboin became lord of Italy. In fact, as he had promised them, the proconsul of Italy, Narses, left Italy and went back to the province of the Spains. [47]
6. Seeing that they were defenseless, the citizens of Pavia and the metropolis of Milan along with the remaining cities of the Italians submitted their necks to Alboin as it had been predestined by God. [48]
Alter ruling for three years and six months in Italy, Alboin was killed by his spatharius Helmechis in the city of Verona as a consequence of an evil plot originated by his wife Rosemund and his chamberlain Peredeus. [49]
Helmechis wanted to reign, but he could not do it for fear of the Lombards [50] and the murder of Alboin. Then Rosemund quickly sent word to the military prefect of Ravenna, Longinus, asking him to help her flee to Ravenna. As Longinus heard these words, he sent some boats which took Rosemund, Alsuenda, King Alboin’s daughter, and Helmechis, and, they also took all the treasure of the Lombards with them.
39. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, I. 27. narrates that the defeat was so great that the Gepids ceased to exist as a people.
40. Chlotsuinda in Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 5, and in Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, 1,27.
41. Chlothar I (511-560/561).
42. «And Audoin reigned [...] Albsuinda.» A similar account can be found in Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 5.
43. Paul the Deacon states that Narses was a chartularius and later became patricius. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II, 3.
44. According to Paul the Deacon, the Italians, envious of the wealth Narses had acquired, asked emperor Justin II to remove him from office, and that Empress Sophia sent Narses a message saying that, because he was a eunuch, «she would make him portion out to the girls in the women’s chamber the daily tasks of wool.» Narses then asked the Lombards to invade Italy. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II, 5. For the different ways Narses’s invitation has been interpreted, see Christie, The Lombards, pp. 60-63, and Moorhead, Ostrogothic Italy and the Lombard Invasions, p. 152.
45. Paul the Deacon relates the existence of a pact between the Lombards and the Avars, but he only reports that the former left Pannonia to the latter and «if at any lime it should be necessary for the Lombards return they should take back their own fields.» Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II, 7.
46. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II, 7, states that the Lombards left Pannonia in 568.
47. This detail is not mentioned by Paul the Deacon, who recounts that Narses died shortly after going to Rome from Campania and that his body and his riches were carried to Constantinople. Paul the Deacon Historia Langobardorum, II, 11.
48. According to Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II, 26-27, Pavia held out for three years.
49. Paul the Deacon recounts that Rosemund wanted to kill Alboin because lie forced her to drink from a cup fashioned out of her father’s skull. Following Helmechis’s suggestion, she convinced Peredeus to participate in the murder of the king, by taking the place of the girl who was Peredeus’s lover one night and, after Peredeus made love to her, Rosemund threatened to reveal all to Alboin if he refused to do what she asked. Helmichis then killed the king of the Lombards. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II. 28.
50. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II, 29, reports that the Lombards wanted to kill Helmechis.
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So there were schisms and wars between the Lombards and the Romans for many years. Then, as the evil inclination to sin had a female origin, the same reason for which women have had the habit of sinning up to the present day, [51] Rosemund was persuaded by the commander Longinus, [52] as she was previously by Helmechis, to kill Helmechis and be wife to Longinus. Rosemund took this advice, prepared some poison, and gave it to Helmechis. As he tasted it, he understood that he had drunk an evil thing. He then had Rosemund drink with him and they both died. Then the prefect Longinus took all the treasures of the Lombards and Albsuinda, King Alboin’s daughter, and ordered that Albsuenda be put on a ship and sent to Constantinople to his emperor. [53]
7. In that time the Lombards elected as king Cleph of the Pelei lineage. [54] He reigned for two years and six months and died. [55]
The judges [56] of the Lombards ruled Italy without a king for twelve years. [57] After that, they elected a king named Authari, son of Cleph.
Authari took a wife named Theodelinda, daughter of Garibald and Walderada. [58]
And with Theodelinda came her brother, named Gundwald, and King Authari appointed him as duke of the city of Asti. He reigned for seven years and died.
The Duke of the Thuringians, Agilwald, came from Turin, [59] married queen Theodelinda, was elected king of the Lombards, and killed three rebellious dukes, Zangrulf of Verona, Mimulf of the island of St. Iulius, [60] and Gaidulf of Bergamo, and many other rebels.
King Aioald [61] engendered from Theodelinda a daughter named Gudeberga [62] and a son named Adelwald. [63]
Agilvald reigned for twenty-five years. [64]
His son Adelwald reigned for ten years. [65]
Arioald reigned for ten years. [66]
51. Paul the Deacon does not make this statement, while the chronicler Agnellus of Ravenna takes Rosemund’s behavior as his starting point to warn husbands about their wives, suggesting that they should never provoke their wrath. Agnellus of Ravenna, Liber pontificalis, ch. 97.
52. This sentence is not clear because of the author’s weak knowledge of the Latin language. For this reason, I have decided to follow the version narrated by Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 5, and Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II, 31.
53. «Rosemund was persuaded [...] to his emperor.» Cf. Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 5. Paul the Deacon adds that Peredetis too was taken to Constantinople where his eyes were plucked out because the emperor feared him. Imitating Samson, Peredetis was later able to avenge his injuries by killing two Byzantine nobles. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II, 31.
54. Paul the Deacon does not mention this detail. At the beginning of King Rothari’s edict (Edictum Rothari, p. 14), it is said that Cleph belonged to the Beleos family.
55. One year and six months in Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II, 31. Cleph (572-574).
56. i. e. dukes.
57. Ten years in Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, II, 32.
58. «In that time [...] Walderada.» The same account is in Origo gentis Langobardorum, ch. 6. Garibald was the king of the Bavarians. Paul the Deacon does not mention Walderada. Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, III, 30.
59. Agilulf in Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, III. 30. He was duke of Turin.
60. Island in Lake Orta.
61. i. e. Agilwald.
62. Gundiperga in Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, IV, 47.
63. Adaloald in Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum, IV, 25.
64. Agilulf (590-616).
65. Adaloald (616-626).
66. Arioald (626-636).
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8. Rothari reigned for sixteen years. [67]
Thanks to him, laws and justice began for the Lombards. And for the first time the judges used written laws. [68] Previously, all causes were decided by cadarfada, that is either by arbitration or by custom. [69]
In the period of King Rothari, light arose in the darkness and, because of it, the aforesaid Lombards devoted themselves to the canonical disputes and became helpers of the priests.
9. Rodoald reigned for six months. [70]
Aribert reigned for nine years. [71]
Grimoald reigned for nine years. [72]
Berthari reigned for seventeen years. [73]
Cunibert reigned for thirteen years. [74]
Liupert reigned for two years. [75]
Aribert reigned for twelve years. [76]
Ansprad reigned for three months.
Liutprand reigned for thirty-one years and seven months. [77]
Hildeprand reigned for seven months. [78]
Ratchis reigned for four years and nine months. [79]
Aistulf reigned for eight years. [80]
Desideritis reigned with his son Adelchis for seventeen years and three months. [81]
Here the kingdom of the Lombards ended and the kingdom of Italy [82] began with the most glorious Charles, king of the Franks. As helper and defender of the lord Peter, the prince of the apostles, he had gone to Italy to demand justice for him. [83]
The desire of gain had not caused Charles to go, but he became Peter’s helper as he was good, pious, and compassionate. Though he might have destroyed everything, he became clement and indulgent. Because he was merciful, he bestowed on the Lombards the laws of their homeland, adding some when he believed they were necessary for the Lombards. He forgave the wrongdoings of innumerable men who had incessantly acted against him. [84] For this reason the Almighty God multiplied his riches a hundredfold.
67. Rothari (636-652).
68. In 643 Rothari had the Lombard laws written down. See Edictum Rothari, pp. 13-113.
69. In King Liutprand’s legislation, similar terms, cawerfeda and cawerfida, are used. Liutprandi Leges, chs. 77, 133.
70. Rodoald (652-653).
71. Aribert (653-661).
72. Grimoald (662-671). Before Grimoald, Perctarit and Godepert, Aribert’s sons, reigned from 661 to 662.
73. Perctarit (672-688).
74. Cunibert (688-700).
75. Liupert (700-701).
76. Aribert II (701-712).
77. Liutprand (712-744).
78. Hildeprand (744).
79. Ratchis (744-749).
80. Aistulf (749-756).
81. Desiderius (756-774).
82. In this period the kingdom of Italy only included present-day North Italy and Tuscany.
83. Charlemagne ended the kingdom of the Lombards by conquering their capital, Pavia, in 774.
84. For Charlemagne’s policy in Italy, see the introduction (section I: Carolinian Italy).
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Alter taking Italy, he set the boundaries of his territories in Spain; [85] then he subdued Saxony. [86] Afterwards he became lord of Bavaria, [87] and the fear of him came upon innumerable peoples.
But at last, because he was worthy of the imperial office, he acquired the imperial crown, obtained all the dignities of Roman power, became the most dutiful son of lord Peter, the apostle, and defended Peter’s properties from his enemies. [88]
11. After all these things, he handed over the kingdom of Italy to his great and glorious son, lord Pippin, the great king, and, as the Almighty God granted the father the gift of fortitude, so did it abound in the son. [89]
Through Pippin the province of Thrace and the Avars were brought into subjection to the Franks. As we have said, to his own great comfort and that of his father, the lord Pippin expelled and overcame the aforementioned Avars, who, sprung from a stock that is the root of all evil, had always been enemies of the churches and persecutors of the Christians. The holy churches were defended and many holy vessels, which those cruel and impious men had carried off, were brought back home by the same defender. [90]
Then, as they deserved for breaking their oath, the inhabitants of the Beneventan province underwent the capital sentence and their cities were destroyed and burned down. [91]
After this, Pippin also went against the Beowinidis with his army, ravaged their land, despoiled the people of that land and carried them captive back with him.
Then, by his order, his army liberated the island of Corsica which was oppressed by the Moors. [92]
At the present day, thanks to his help, Italy shines as she did in the most ancient days. She has laws, abundance, and quietness thanks to the merits of our lord and the will of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
85. In reality, Charlemagne’s attempt in 778 to expand his dominion to Spain was unsuccessful. During the retreat, the Basques destroyed the rearguard of his army at Roneesvalles in the Pyrenees. In the following years his son Louis the Pious was able to conquer some territories corresponding roughly to present-day Catalonia. Riché, The Carolingians, pp. 115-118; Barbero, Charlemagne, pp. 57-81.
86. The war to subdue Saxony was the longest and the most difficult of all the wars Charlemagne fought. Riché, The Carolingians, pp. 102-107; Barbero, Charlemagne, pp. 44-53.
87. Charlemagne annexed Bavaria when the Duke of the Bavarians, Tassilo, attempted to free himself of Frankish tutelage. Riché, The Carolingians, pp. 101-102; Barbero, Charlemagne, pp. 63-65.
88. Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne emperor on Christmas day 800.
89. Pippin became king of the Lombards in 781 at about the age of four and ruled the kingdom of Italy until his death in 810. Barbero, Charlemagne, pp. 37-38.
90. Pippin’s victorious campaign against the Avars, who lived in an area corresponding roughly to present day Hungary, occurred in 796. Charlemagne’s biographer Einhard emphasized that in the war against the Avars the Franks obtained a huge booty. Einhard, Vita Karoli Magni, ch. 13. For a description of this expedition, see the poem King Pippin’s Victory over the Avars in this volume.
91. Charlemagne and his son Pippin tried to subdue the Lombard principality of Benevento several times, but never succeeded. Cf. Bertolini, Carlomagno e Benenento; Casparri, Il ducato e il principalo di Benevento, pp. 110-112.
92. According to the Annales regni Francorum, this expedition occurred in 806. The Muslims however continued to be a serious threat to the inhabitants of Corsica. The Frankish Annals describe Moorish raids in 807 and 809 and narrate that the Muslims reoccupied the island in 810.