Bernhard King of Italy Carolingian

Abt 797 - 818  (~ 21 years)

 Set As Default Person

• Name	Bernhard King of Italy Carolingian  [1]
  Born	Abt 797	Vermandois, Neustria
  Gender	Male
  Name	Bernard of Italy
  Reference Number	8084
  Died	17 Apr 818	Aachen, Frankish Empire
  Person ID	I8084	FelsingFam
  Last Modified	16 Feb 2024

  
  

  Father	Pippin I Carloman King of Italy Carolingian,   b. 777, Framkish Empire ,   d. 8 Jul 810, Mediolanum (Milan), Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)map  (Age 33 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Chrothais Unknown,   b. Abt 782
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F3226	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Cunegonde Unknown,   b. Abt 800,   d. Aft 15 Jun 835  (Age ~ 35 years)
  Children	+ 1. Pippin Comte de Senlis Peronne and St.Quintin Vermandois,   b. Abt 815, Vermandois, Normandy, France ,   d. Abt 850, Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy  (Age ~ 35 years)  [natural]
  Last Modified	16 Feb 2024
  Family ID	F2400	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Carolingian-119 BIOGRAPHY FROM GENEALOGICS.ORG: Bernhard was born in Vermandois, Normandy, about 797, the son of Pippin I, king of Italy; some sources indicate that he was illegitimate. When his father died in 810 from an illness contracted at a siege of Venice, his grandfather Charlemagne allowed Bernhard to inherit Italy, but the empire went to Pippin's younger brother Louis 'the Pious'. About 814 Bernhard married Kunigund of Laon. They had a son Pippin, who would have progeny. Prior to 817 Bernhard was a trusted agent of his grandfather and then of his uncle Louis 'the Pious', emperor from 814. Bernhard's rights to Italy were respected, and he was used as an intermediary to manage events in his sphere of influence - for example, when in 815 Louis received reports that some Roman nobles had conspired to murder Pope Leo III, and that he had responded by butchering the ringleaders, Bernhard was sent to investigate the matter. A change came in 817, when Louis 'the Pious' drew up an _Ordinatio Imperii_ detailing the future of the Frankish empire. Under this, the bulk of the Frankish territory went to Louis' eldest son Lothar I; Bernhard received no further territory, and although his kingship of Italy was confirmed, he would be a vassal of Lothar. This was, it was later alleged, the work of the empress Irmengard, who wished Bernhard to be displaced in favour of her own sons. Resenting Louis' actions, Bernhard began plotting with a group of magnates: Eggideo, Reginhard and Reginhar, the last the grandson of a Thuringian rebel against Charlemagne, Hardrad. Anselm, bishop of Milan, and Theodulf, bishop of Orléans, were also accused of being involved; there is no evidence either to support or contradict this in the case of Theodulf, while the case for Anselm is murkier. Bernhard's main complaint was the notion of being a vassal of Lothar. In practical terms his actual position had not been altered at all by the terms of the decree, and he could safely have continued to rule under such a system. Nonetheless, reports came to Louis 'the Pious' that his nephew was planning to set up an independent regime in Italy. Louis reacted swiftly to the plot, marching south to Châlons. Bernhard and his associates were taken by surprise; Bernhard travelled to Châlons in an attempt to negotiate terms, but he and the ringleaders were forced to surrender to Louis. He had them taken to Aix-la-Chapelle, where they were tried and condemned to death. Louis commuted their sentences to blinding, which would neutralise Bernhard as a threat without actually killing him; however, the process of blinding (carried out by means of pressing a red-hot stiletto to the eyeballs) proved so traumatic that Bernhard died in agony two days later, on 17 April 818. At the same time, Louis also had his half-brothers Drogo, Hugo and Dietrich tonsured and confined to monasteries, to prevent other Carolingian off-shoots challenging the main line. He also treated those guilty or suspected of conspiring with Bernhard harshly: Theodulf, bishop of Orléans, was imprisoned and died soon afterwards; the lay conspirators were blinded, the clerics deposed and imprisoned; all lost lands and honours. Bernhard's kingdom of Italy was reabsorbed into the Frankish empire, and soon after bestowed upon Louis' eldest son Lothar. In 822 Louis made a display of public penance at Attigny, where he confessed before all the court to having sinfully slain his nephew; he also welcomed his half-brothers back into his favour (Drogo became an archbishop and bishop of Metz; and Hugo became abbot of St. Quentin de Monte near Péronne, and Louis' chancellor). These actions possibly stemmed from guilt over his part in Bernhard's death. It has been argued by some historians that his behaviour left him open to clerical domination, and reduced his prestige and respect among the Frankish nobility. Others, however, point out that Bernhard's plot had been a serious threat to the stability of the kingdom, and the reaction no less a threat; Louis' display of penance, then 'was a well-judged gesture to restore harmony and re-establish his authority.'

  
  

• Sources

  [S807] Genealogics.org.