Audoin
Audoin was king of the Lombards from 547 to 560, leading his people to Pannonia where they settled as fœderati of the Byzantine Empire. He was instrumental in the Byzantine victory against the Goths, and his son Alboin would later lead the Lombards into Italy. Audoin is primarily remembered as a Lombard ruler who navigated complex geopolitical alliances.
- Century
- 6th century
- Country Or Region
- Pannonia
Key Facts
- ›Audoin was king of the Lombards from 547 to 560.
- ›He was of the Gausi, a prominent Lombard ruling clan, and the son of Menia.
- ›Audoin married Rodelinda, sister of Amalaberga and daughter of Hermanafrid.
- ›He led the Lombards to Pannonia, where they became fœderati of the Byzantines in 541.
- ›Audoin sent troops to aid Narses in the Gothic War against the Ostrogoths.
- ›He inflicted a heavy defeat on the Gepids with the help of his brother-in-law Amalafrid.
About Audoin
Audoin, also known by his Langobardic names Alduin or Hildwin and Latin name Audoinus, served as king of the Lombards from 547 to 560. He belonged to the Gausi, a distinguished ruling clan among the Lombards. His lineage connected him to both Lombard and Thuringian royalty, being the son of Menia, a Lombard woman, and Basinus, the king of the Thuringii. This made him a half-brother to Hermanafrid, king of the Thuringii, and Raicunda, who was married to the Lombard king Wacho.
Life and historical context
Audoin's early life was influenced by the political landscape of the Germanic tribes. Following the defeat of his half-brother Hermanafrid by the Franks in 531, Thuringia was annexed. Hermanafrid's subsequent death under suspicious circumstances in Frankish territory, and the flight of his widow Amalaberga with their children to her brother Theodahad, king of the Ostrogoths, further shaped the era. These children, Amalafrid and Rodelinda, were captured by the Byzantine general Belisarius around 539 during the Gothic War. Byzantine Emperor Justinian I later arranged the marriage of Rodelinda to Audoin.
Around 540, Audoin assumed regency for Walthari, the young son of King Wacho. He led the Lombards into Pannonia, where they were granted settlement by Justinian I and became fœderati of the Byzantines in 541, tasked with defending the Danube frontier. It is believed Audoin may have killed Walthari before he reached adulthood, around 546, to secure the throne for himself. He officially became king of the Lombards around 547 after Walthari's death.
Major contributions
Audoin played a crucial role in the Lombard presence in Pannonia and their alliance with the Byzantine Empire. Beginning in 551, he was compelled to dispatch troops to Italy to support Narses in the Gothic War against the Ostrogoths. The following year, he sent a significant contingent of over 5,000 men who aided in the defeat of the Goths near Mount Vesuvius. Audoin also achieved a notable victory against the Gepids, with the assistance of his brother-in-law Amalafrid. In a significant battle, the Gepid king Thurisind lost his eldest son, Turismod, who was slain by Alboin, Audoin's own son.
Audoin died around 563 or 565, succeeded by his son Alboin, who would later lead the Lombards into the Italian Peninsula, initiating a new chapter in Lombard history.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Audoin?
Audoin was the king of the Lombards from 547 to 560. He was a member of the prominent Gausi ruling clan and played a significant role in the movements and alliances of the Lombard people during the 6th century.
What was Audoin's relationship to the Byzantine Empire?
Audoin led the Lombards to Pannonia, where they were settled by Justinian I and signed a treaty in 541 to become fœderati of the Byzantines. The Lombards were tasked with securing the Danube border against the Franks.
What role did Audoin play in the Gothic War?
Beginning in 551, Audoin was obliged to send troops to serve Narses in Italy during the Gothic War against the Ostrogoths. He sent over 5,000 men to help defeat the Goths near Vesuvius. He also inflicted a defeat on the Gepids.
Who succeeded Audoin as king?
Audoin died in 563 or 565 and was succeeded by his son, Alboin. Alboin is notable for leading the Lombards into the Italian Peninsula.
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