Scauniperga (fl. 756), was a duchess of

Benevento Benevento (, , ; la, Beneventum) is a city and ''comune'' of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill above sea level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino (or Beneventano) and the ...

. She was the mother of Liutprand of Benevento, and reigned by his side from 751 to 756. Scauniperga was married to Gisulf II, and became the head of the regency and regent of Benevento when her underage son succeeded to the Duchy in 751. During the regency, she had herself listed first in official documents and referred to as ''dux'' (Duke), the same title as that of her son. She supported King

Aistulf Aistulf (also Ahistulf, Aistulfus, Haistulfus, Astolf etc.; it, Astolfo; died December 756) was the Duke of Friuli from 744, King of the Lombards from 749, and Duke of Spoleto from 751. His reign was characterized by ruthless and ambitious ef ...

by recognizing his authority and thus confirmed the duchy as a royal vassal state to the kingdom.

Sources

* Chris Wickham: The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 Dukes of Benevento 8th-century women rulers 8th-century Lombard people 8th-century Italian women