Everything about Kings Of Italy totally explained
King of Italy (
rex Italiae in
Latin and
re d'Italia in
Italian) is a title adopted by many rulers of the
Italian peninsula after the fall of the
Roman Empire. Until
1870, however, no “King of Italy” ruled the whole peninsula, though some pretended to such authority.
After the deposition of
Western Roman Emperor Romulus Augustulus in
476,
Heruli leader
Odoacer was appointed
dux Italiae (Duke of Italy) by the reigning
Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno. Later, he took the title of
rex (not, as is sometimes said,
rex italiae), though he always presented himself as an officer of the eastern government. In
483,
Ostrogothic king
Theodoric the Great defeated Odoacer, and set up
a new dynasty of kings of Italy. Ostrogothic rule ended when
Italy was reconquered by the
Byzantine Empire in
552.
This state of affairs didn't last long. In
568, the
Lombards entered the peninsula and ventured to recreate a barbarian kingdom
in opposition to the Empire, establishing their authority over the whole of Italy (especially
Lombardy) except the
Exarchate of Ravenna and the duchies
Rome,
Venetia,
Naples and the southernmost portions. For the next two centuries, Lombards and Byzantines fought for dominance in the peninsula.
In the 8th century, estrangement between the Italian Romans and the Byzantine Empire allowed the Lombards to capture the remaining Roman enclaves in northern Italy. However, in
774, they were defeated by the
Franks under
Charlemagne, who deposed their king and took up the title
rex Langobardorum ("King of the Lombards"). Within the
Frankish Empire, Italy was ruled by a
rex Italiae. This Kingdom of Italy was integrated into the
Holy Roman Empire by
Otto I. All subsequent emperors used the title and most were crowned at some time in the ancient Lombard capital of
Pavia before their imperial coronation in Rome.
By the
Peace of Westphalia most of the Italian territories of the
Holy Roman Empire were lost to it and the Italian Crown held no significance thereafter, either
de facto or
de jure. In
1805,
Napoleon Bonaparte endeavoured to attach the Lombard heritage to
France again and was crowned with the
Iron Crown of Lombardy in Pavia. The next year, the
Emperor Francis II abdicated his Imperial title. From the deposition of Napoleon (
1814) until the
Italian Unification (
1861), there was no Italian monarch claiming the overarching title. The
Risorgimento successfully established a dynasty, the
House of Savoy, over the whole peninsula, uniting the kingdoms of
Sardinia and the
Two Sicilies. The monarchy was superseded by the
Italian Republic after a referendum was held in
1946.
Dux Italiae
Theodoric the Great (493–526)
Athalaric (526–534)
Theodahad (534–536)
Witiges (536–540)
Ildibad (540–541)
Eraric (541)
Totila (541–552)
Teia (552–553)
Alboin (568–572)
Cleph (572–574) » Rule of the Dukes (ten year interregnum)
Authari (584–590)
Agilulf (591–c.616)
Adaloald (c.616–c.626)
Arioald (c.626–636)
Rothari (636–652)
Rodoald (652–653)
Aripert I (653–661)
Perctarit and Godepert (661–662)
Grimoald (662–671)
Perctarit (671–688), restored from exile
Alahis (688–689), rebel
Cunincpert (688–700)
Liutpert (700–701)
Raginpert (701)
Aripert II (701–712)
Ansprand (712)
Liutprand (712–744)
Hildeprand (744)
Ratchis (744–749)
Aistulf (749–756)
Desiderius (756–774)
Charlemagne (774–814)
Pippin (781–810)
Bernard (810–818)
Lothair I (818–855)
Louis II (844–875)
Charles II the Bald (875–877)
Carloman (877–879)
Charles III the Fat (879–887)
After 887, Italy fell into instability, with many rulers claiming the Kingship simultaneously:
Berengar I (888–896) » vassal of the German King Arnulf of Carinthia, reduced to Fruili 889-894, deposed by Arnulf in 896.
Guy of Spoleto (889–894) » opponent of Berengar, ruled most of Italy but was deposed by Arnulf.
Lambert of Spoleto (891–896) » subking of his father Guy before 894, reduced to Spoleto 894-895.
Arnulf of Carinthia (896–899)
In 896, Arnulf and Ratold lost control of Italy, which was divided between Berengar and Lambert:
Berengar I (896–924) » seized Lambert's portion upon the latter's death in 898.
Lambert of Spoleto (896–898)
Louis III of Provence (900-905) » opposed Berengar 900-902 and 905.
Rudolph II of Burgundy (922–933) » defeated Berengar but fled Italy in 926.
Hugh of Arles (926–947) » elected by Berengar's partisans in 925, resigned to Provence after 945.
Lothair II (945–950)
Berengar II of Ivrea (950–961) » jointly with his son:
Adalbert of Ivrea (950–963)
In 951 Otto I of Germany invaded Italy and was crowned "King of the Lombards". In 952, Berengar and Adalbert became in vassals but remained Kings until being deposed by Otto.
Otto I (951–973)
Otto II (1004–1024)
Conrad II (1128–1137)
Frederick I (1327–1347)
Charles IV
Ferdinand I
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