ADELCHI, RE DEI LONGOBARDI

ADELCHIS, King of the Lombards. — Son of Desiderius (v.), he was associated with his father in the government in 759. Ten years later, when an alliance with the Franks was being strengthened by the marriage of his sister Adelperga to Charlemagne, plans were also made for his marriage to Gisela, Charlemagne’s sister. But negotiations were interrupted by the outbreak of hostilities between the two peoples. In 773, A. was sent to lead the Lombard army against the Franks who had descended into Italy through the Aosta Valley and defended the Clusae of the Susa Valley. Defeated and put to flight, he sought refuge in September of that same year in Verona together with the wife and children of the deceased King Carloman. When the city fell into Frankish hands in 774, he managed to flee to Salerno and from there to Constantinople, where he was granted the rank of patrician by Emperor Constantine IV Copronymus. In 787, relying also on the aid of Byzantine troops from southern Italy, he attempted to land in Calabria, but after a bloody battle was repulsed by Duke Grimoald of Benevento and the Franks. It is unknown whether he died in battle, was taken prisoner by the Franks, or managed to return to Constantinople.