Ratold of Italy
Encyclopedia
Ratold was a King of Italy
who ruled for a month or so in 896.
He was younger illegitimate son of Arnulf of Carinthia
by a concubine. His mother may have been the same mother as Zwentibold
, but may on the other hand have been a Lombard
, thus gaining the child standing among the people of Italy, or a Slav, based on his name. Arnulf had the nobility recognise the rights of Zwentibold and Ratold as his successors.
After his father was crowned Roman Emperor
in Rome
in 896, he left Ratold behind as nominal sub-king of Italy
in Milan
and crossed the Alps for Germany. Immediately after returning to Germany, Lambert II of Spoleto
, an opponent of Arnulf's for the crown of Italy, took control of the country. Ratold was forced to flee.
King of Italy
King of Italy is a title adopted by many rulers of the Italian peninsula after the fall of the Roman Empire...
who ruled for a month or so in 896.
He was younger illegitimate son of Arnulf of Carinthia
Arnulf of Carinthia
Arnulf of Carinthia was the Carolingian King of East Francia from 887, the disputed King of Italy from 894 and the disputed Holy Roman Emperor from February 22, 896 until his death.-Birth and Illegitimacy:...
by a concubine. His mother may have been the same mother as Zwentibold
Zwentibold
Zwentibold was the illegitimate son of the Carolingian Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia. In 895 his father, then king of East Francia, granted him the Kingdom of Lotharingia, which he ruled until his death.After his death he was declared a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church.- Life :Zwentibold...
, but may on the other hand have been a Lombard
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
, thus gaining the child standing among the people of Italy, or a Slav, based on his name. Arnulf had the nobility recognise the rights of Zwentibold and Ratold as his successors.
After his father was crowned Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 896, he left Ratold behind as nominal sub-king of Italy
King of Italy
King of Italy is a title adopted by many rulers of the Italian peninsula after the fall of the Roman Empire...
in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and crossed the Alps for Germany. Immediately after returning to Germany, Lambert II of Spoleto
Lambert II of Spoleto
Lambert II was the King of Italy from 891, Holy Roman Emperor, co-ruling with his father from 892, and Duke of Spoleto and Camerino from his father's death in 894. He was the son of Guy III of Spoleto and Ageltrude, born in San Rufino...
, an opponent of Arnulf's for the crown of Italy, took control of the country. Ratold was forced to flee.