Rodoald

Rodoald
King of the Lombards
Reign	652 – 653
Predecessor	Rothari
Successor	Aripert I
Born	c. 630
Died	653
Dynasty	Harodingian
Father	Rothari
Religion	Arian

Rodoald (or Rodwald), (c. 630 – 653) was a Lombard king of Italy, who succeeded his father Rothari on the throne in 652. He was said to be lecherous and he was assassinated after a reign of just six months in 653 by the husband of one of his lovers. Paul the Deacon writes that Rodoald "had reigned five years and seven days, " (more probably five months and seven days), although historians note that this length of reign is suspect. Aripert, a rival claimant, was elected with the support of the Catholic Church, which opposed the Arian monarchy.

Sources

• Paul the Deacon (1907). History of the Lombards. Translated by Foulke, William Dudley. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania. See book IV, chapters 47−48, for Rodoald's reign.