Grimoald III of Benevento

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Grimoald III was the Lombard prince of Benevento from the death of his father, the first independent duke, Arechis II, in 788 to his own death in 806. He was a second son. In 787, he and his elder brother Romoald were sent as hostages to Charlemagne who had descended the Italian boot to conquer the Beneventan principality. In return for peace, Arechis recognised Charlemagne's suzerainty and gave his sons over. However, the Beneventans were independent in practice.

Grimoald returned to Italy on his father's death. He originally recognised Frankish overlordship, but was quickly faced with a Byzantine invasion under command of Adelchis, the son of the last Lombard king, Desiderius. Arechis II had tried to claim the kingship in 774, with Desiderius defeat at the hands of Charlemagne, but he abandoned the cause and took the titel of princeps instead. Adelchis felt he had a better claim to rule the Lombard people and consequently garnere Greek allies (Frankish enemies) to try and retake the only independent portion of the peninsula left. A Frankish army under Winigis and Hildebrand, Duke of Spoleto, joined Grimoald and defeated Adelchis on the coast soon after his landing.

Later, Grimoald tried to throw off Frankish suzerainty, but Charlemagne's sons, King Pepin of Italy and his elder brother King Charles the Younger, forced him to submit in 792. Nonetheless, Benevento was well on its way to complete independence and Carolingian authority was always light.

Preceded by: Arechis II

Prince of Benevento 788 – 806

Succeeded by: Grimoald IV