Gisulf II (''Gisulfo II di Friuli''; abt. 545 – 611) was the

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 * 5 ...

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

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of Trent were at odds with King

Agilulf Agilulf ( 555 – April 616), called ''the Thuringian'' and nicknamed ''Ago'', was a duke of Turin and king of the Lombards from 591 until his death. A relative of his predecessor Authari, Agilulf was of Thuringian origin and belonged to the An ...

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

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

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

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in 606. The most significant event of his reign occurred probably in 611.It has been dated as early as 602. However, Gisulf certainly took part in the confirmation of Candidianus in 606. When the Avars invaded Italy, 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 soon 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,

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and Kakko, succeeded him. Gisulf's younger sons, Radoald and Grimoald, fled to

Arechis I of Benevento Arechis I (also ''Arigis'', ''Aretchis'', ) 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 appo ...

, 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).

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

Garibald II of Bavaria Garibald II (585–625) 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 Gisulf II (''Gisulfo II di Friuli''; abt. 545 – 611) was the Duke of Friuli from around 591 to ...

, but he does not identify who married whom.

Notes

Sources

''Historia Langobardorum''
Available at Northvegr. , - 611 deaths Dukes of Friuli Lombard warriors Military personnel killed in action 6th-century Lombard people 7th-century Lombard people 6th-century rulers in Europe 7th-century rulers in Europe Year of birth uncertain {{Italy-noble-stub