Arechis II of Benevento

Biography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arechis_II_of_Benevento

Arechis II (also Aretchis, Arichis, Arechi or Aregis) (born c. 734 – died 26 August 787) was a Duke of Benevento, in Southern Italy. He sought to expand the Beneventos' influence into areas of Italy that were still under Byzantine control, but he also had to defend against Charlemagne, who had conquered northern Italy.

Genealogy

Arechis was descended from the Lombards, who had invaded the Italian peninsula in the late sixth century. The Lombards established their kingdom in northern Italy. Its capital was at Pavia, and it also included two independent southern duchies—the Spoleto and Benevento.

Arechis was the son of Duke Liutprand, whom he succeeded in 758.[2] Arechis continued to use the title duke of Benevento until the Lombard kingdom fell to Charlemagne in 774. Arechis adopted the title prince of Benevento after the fall of the kingdom—probably as a gesture of independence—and continued to use it until his death in 787.[3]

[2] Kreutz 1991, p. 5.

• https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arechi_II_di_Benevento

Nobile longobardo di origini probabilmente friulane, e forse imparentato con la dinastia ducale di Benevento, Arechi sposò Adelperga, figlia del re Desiderio, e fu nominato dal suocero quindicesimo duca di Benevento nel 758 al posto del ribelle Liutprando.

Liutprand of Benevento was his deposed predecessor, not the documented father.
Wiki ITA, however, does not exclude kinship.
Wiki ENG on the other hand, declares him to be his son, citing a page of studies.

Brother and sister:

-http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SOUTHERN%20ITALY,%20PRE-NORMAN.htm#...

1. ARICHIS, son of --- ([736]-Salerno 26 Aug 787, bur Salerno Cathedral). The parentage of Arichis is unknown. Stasser suggests that he may have been descended from Arichis, third son of Romoald I Duke of Benevento, possibly his grandson[93]. He was installed as ARICHIS II Duke of Benevento in 758 by Desiderius King of the Lombards after the deposition of Duke Luitprand. The dating clause of a charter under which "Arnaisclo fi[lius] q[uon]dd[am] Vvillerami" sold property to Montecassino refers to "tempori dom Arechis summi ducis Langobardorum, anno septimo ducati eius, men Magio per indict sec[un]da" (May [764])[94]. He proclaimed himself Prince of Benevento in 774, as sole Lombard ruler after the incorporation of the Lombard Italian kingdom into the Frankish domain after the defeat of King Desiderius. Paul the Deacon lived at his court[95]. He founded the church of Santa Sophia at Benevento[96]. The Chronicon Vulturnense records that "Arichis…Longobardorum gentis princeps" donated property to Volturno monastery by undated charter[97]. The Chronicon Vulturnense records that "Arichis summus Dux gentis Langombardorum" confirmed the donation to Volturno monastery by "quondam Arichis filius Radychis" by charter dated 778[98]. The dating clause of a charter under which "Aredeo fi[lius] qdd Georgii" donated property to Montecassino refers to "tempori dom Arechis summi duci genti Langobardorum, anno vicesimo sec[un]do ducati eius, men Magio per indict sec[un]da" (May [779])[99]. It should be noted that this document refers to "ducati eius" not "principatu eius". Different manuscripts of the Annales Beneventani record the death of "Arechis princeps et dux Samnitum" on "VII Kal Sep 788" and in Aug 787[100]. The Annales Laurissenses record the deaths in 787 of "Harichis dux Beneventanus" and of "Romaldum filium suum"[101]. Einhard records the deaths (in 786) of "Aragisus dux Beneventanorum…Rumoldo maiore filio suo" and the accession of "minore ducis filio Grimoldo"[102]. His place of burial is confirmed by the Chronicon Salernitanum which records that his son "Grimoald" was buried "in…ecclesia sedis Salernitanæ iuxta sepulchra patris fratrisque"[103].

m ( [758] ) ADALPERGA of the Lombards, daughter of DESIDERIUS King of the Lombards & his wife Ansa --- (-after Feb 788). The Chronicon Salernitanum names Adalperga, daughter of Desiderius, as wife of "Arichis Beneventanus dux"[104]. She is referred to as the wife of Duke Arichis in the Versus de Annis by Paulus Diaconus, the initial letters of each verse of the poem spelling out the words "Adelperga pia"[105]. Paul the Deacon dedicated his history of the Roman Empire to her[106]. Pope Hadrian I records "Adalberga relicta Arigihs…duas filias suas secum" in a letter to Charles I King of the Franks dated to [777/78][107].

Duke Arichis & his wife had five children:

• a) ROMOALD ([761/62]-21 Jul 787, bur Salerno Cathedral). "Rumoldum et Grimoldum" are named as sons of "Aragisus" by Einhard[108]. …
• b) GRIMOALD (-Apr 806, bur Salerno Cathedral). "Rumoldum et Grimoldum" are named as sons of "Aragisus" by Einhard[116]. … b) GRIMOALD (-Apr 806, bur Salerno Cathedral). "Rumoldum et Grimoldum" are named as sons of "Aragisus" by Einhard[116]. … m ([789/91], repudiated [795]) EUANTHIA, daughter of --- & his wife Hypatia. …
• c) GISULF . The Chronicon Salernitanum names (in order) "Romoald, Grimoald et Gisifum, Theoderadam et Adelchisam" as children of Duke Arichis and Adalperga[137].
• d) THEODERADA (-after Feb 788). The Chronicon Salernitanum names (in order) "Romoald, Grimoald et Gisifum, Theoderadam et Adelchisam" as children of Duke Arichis and Adalperga[138]. Pope Hadrian I records "Adalberga relicta Arigihs…duas filias suas secum" in a letter to Charles I King of the Franks dated to [777/78][139].
• e) ADELCHISA (after 773-after Nov 817). The Chronicon Salernitanum names (in order) "Romoald, Grimoald et Gisifum, Theoderadam et Adelchisam" as children of Duke Arichis and Adalperga[140].

2. daughter (-after 774). The Chronica Monasterii Casinensis records that "Arichis primus Beneventi principum" appointed "germanamque suam" as first abbess of Benevento Santa Sophia, dated to Nov 774[145].

References

• Santa Sofia is a Roman Catholic church in the town of Benevento, in the region of Campania, in southern Italy; founded in the late-8th century, it retains many elements of its original Lombard architecture. The church was founded by the Lombard Arechis II of Benevento around 760, as testified by numerous privileges signed by him, some of which are in the Museum of Samnium near the church. The edifice was modeled on the Palatine Chapel of the Lombard king Liutprand in Pavia and, after the defeat of Desiderius by Charlemagne and the fall of the Lombard kingdom in northern Italy (774), it became the national church of the Lombards who had taken shelter in the Duchy of Benevento. The church was part of a large program of construction which would legitimate Arechis' claim as the highest Lombard authority, after his failed attempt to acquire the title of king and the renaming of the duchy as a principality.[1]
• Arechis dedicated it to Holy Wisdom ("Hagia Sophia" in Greek), like the Hagia Sophia church of Constantine in Constantinople; he also annexed a nearby Benediction convent, which had been dependent on the Abbey of Montecassino. The convent was placed under the leadership of his sister, Gariperga. The sanctuary also housed the relics of Saint Mercurius, which putatively had been abandoned in 633 near Quintodecimo by the eastern Roman emperor Constans II.[2]
• https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_di_Santa_Sofia_(Benevento) … Arechis also annexed a female Benedictine monastery [3] , dependent on Montecassino , run by his sister Gariperga. The church therefore became a moral and religious pole distinct from the Cathedral of Benevento .