Gisulf II was the Duke of Friuli

Duke of Friuli

The dukes and margraves of Friuli were the rulers of the Duchy and March of Friuli in the Middle Ages.The dates given below, when contentious, are discussed in the articles of the respective dukes.-Lombard dukes:* 568–c.584 Grasulf I...

 from around 591 to his death. He was the son and successor of Gisulf I

Gisulf I of Friuli

Gisulf I was probably the first duke of Friuli , a nephew of Alboin, first king of the Lombards in Italy. Alboin appointed him duke around 569 after the Lombard conquest of the region, though some scholars believe he appointed Gisulf's father, his brother, Grasulf, duke.Before this, Gisulf had been...

.

Gisulf and Gaidoald of Trent were at odds with King Agilulf

Agilulf

Agilulf called the Thuringian, was a duke of Turin and king of the Lombards from 591 until his death.-Biography:A relative of his predecessor Authari, he was selected king on the advice of the Christian queen and widow of Authari, Theodelinda, whom he then married...

 until they made peace in 602 or 603. Gisulf also allied with the Avars to make war on Istria

Istria

Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...

.

Gisulf was involved in the local church. The bishops of "the schismatics of Istria and Venetia," as Paul the Deacon

Paul the Deacon

Paul the Deacon , also known as Paulus Diaconus, Warnefred, Barnefridus and Cassinensis, , was a Benedictine monk and historian of the Lombards.-Life:...

 calls them, fled to the protection of Gisulf. Gisulf also took part in the confirmation of the succession of Candidianus to the patriarchate of Aquileia in 606.

The most significant event of his reign however occurred probably in 611. The Avars

Eurasian Avars

The Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turko-Mongol groups...

 invaded Italy and Gisulf's territory was the first they passed through. Gisulf summoned a large army and went to meet them. The Avars were a larger force, however, and they sooned overwhelmed the Lombards. Gisulf died in battle and his duchy was overrun. He left four sons and four daughters by his wife Romilda (or Ramhilde). His elder two sons, Tasso

Tasso of Friuli

Tasso was the joint Duke of Friuli with his younger brother Kakko from their father's death to their own. Their father was Gisulf II. In or around 611, Gisulf was killed fending off an Avar invasion....

 and Kakko

Kakko of Friuli

Kakko was the joint duke of Friuli with his elder brother Tasso from their father's death to their own. Their father was Gisulf II...

, succeeded him.

Gisulf's younger sons, Radoald

Radoald of Benevento

Radoald was the duke of Benevento from 646 to his death in 651. His elder brother, Aiulf was mentally unstable and Radoald and their younger brother Grimoald were regents. Radoald and Grimoald were brothers as younger sons of Gisulf II of Friuli...

 and Grimoald

Grimoald I of Benevento

Grimoald I was duke of Benevento and king of the Lombards .Born probably before 610 to Duke Gisulf II of Friuli and the Bavarian princess Ramhilde, daughter of Duke Garibald I of Bavaria, he succeeded his brother Radoald as duke of Benevento...

, fled to the Arechis I of Benevento

Arechis I of Benevento

Arechis I was the second duke of Benevento from 591 to his death in 641, a reign of half a century. He was from Friuli and was a relative of the dukes there, maybe a nephew of Zotto, his predecessor. He was appointed by King Agilulf in the spring of 591, after Zotto's death...

, a relative of Gisulf's. They both eventually became dukes of Benevento in turn and Grimoald even became king. Gisulf left two daughters, Appa and Geila (or Gaila). Paul the Deacon

Paul the Deacon

Paul the Deacon , also known as Paulus Diaconus, Warnefred, Barnefridus and Cassinensis, , was a Benedictine monk and historian of the Lombards.-Life:...

 says that one married the King of the Alemanni (uncertain) and another the Prince of the Bavarians, probably Garibald II of Bavaria

Garibald II of Bavaria

Garibald II was Duke of Bavaria from 610 until his death. He was the son of Tassilo I.He married Geila, daughter of Gisulf II of Friuli and Romilda....

, but he does not identify who married whom.

Sources

• Paul the Deacon
  Paul the Deacon
  Paul the Deacon , also known as Paulus Diaconus, Warnefred, Barnefridus and Cassinensis, , was a Benedictine monk and historian of the Lombards.-Life:...
  
  . Historia Langobardorum. Available at Northvegr.

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