biography
pronunciation:
[deseedayrioh]
| biography:
| Last King of the Lombards (757–74). The Duke of Tuscia, he succeeded Astolfo in 756 with the support of the pope against Rachis. At first he achieved a good relationship with the Franks by marrying his two daughters to Pepin III's sons, Charlemagne and Carloman. This ended when he adopted a policy of aggression towards the Papal States, invading Rome in 772. Pope Hadrian I asked Charlemagne - who had repudiated his wife Ermengarda (Desiderio's daughter) - for help. Desiderio was defeated at Susa and besieged at Pavia, while his son Adelchis was defeated at Verona. Desiderio surrendered and abdicated in favour of Charlemagne. He was then confined to a French monastery, where he died. |
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