Duchy of Friuli

Duchy of Friuli
Ducatus Foroiuliensis (Latin)
568–828
The Duchy of Friuli in the northeast within Lombard Italy
The Duchy of Friuli in the northeast within Lombard Italy
Status
CapitalCividale
Common languages
GovernmentDuchy
Duke of Friuli 
• 568-~584 or 568/c.584–590
Grasulf I or Gisulf I (first)
• 774-776
Hrodgaud
• 819-828
Baldric (last)
Historical eraEarly Middle Ages
• Established
568
• Avar invasion
610
• Lombard Kingdom conquered
773-774
• Divided into smaller counties
828
• Reestablished as the March of Friuli
846
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Byzantine Empire under the Justinian dynasty
March of Friuli
Today part ofFriuli-Venezia Giulia

The Duchy of Friuli (Latin: Ducatus Foroiuliensis) was a Lombard duchy in present-day Friuli, the first to be established after the conquest of the Italian peninsula in 568. It was one of the largest domains in Langobardia Major and an important buffer between the Lombard kingdom and the Slavs,[1] Avars, and the Byzantine Empire. The original chief city in the province was Roman Aquileia, but the Lombard capital of Friuli was Forum Julii, modern Cividale.

Interior of the Lombard Tempietto in Cividale del Friuli

Along with the dukes of Spoleto, Benevento and Trent, the lords of Friuli often attempted to establish their independence from the royal authority seated at Pavia, though to no avail. After the Lombard campaign of Charlemagne and the defeat of King Desiderius in 774, the last Friulian duke Hrodgaud ruled until 776. Upon his death, Friuli was incorporated as a march of the Carolingian Empire.

  1. ^ Thomas Hodgkin, Italy and Her Invaders, vol. 5:160.