Thrasimund II of Spoleto

Who was Thrasimund II of Spoleto?

Thrasimund II or Transamund II was the Lombard Duke of Spoleto from 724 to 745, though he was twice driven from power by the king, Liutprand. Transamund rose to power by deposing his own father, Faroald II, and tonsuring him in a monastery.

In 737 or 738, Thrasimund captured Gallese and thus disrupted communication between Rome and Ravenna. Pope Gregory III offered to pay for the return of Gallese in return for a peace treaty with Thrasimund. The treaty included the duke of Benevento, Gregory. Liutprand rejected the treaty as contrary his interests and attacked Thrasimund as a traitor. He had taken Spoleto by 16 June 739 and appointed Hilderic as his replacement. Thrasimund fled to Rome, where Liutprand besieged him. The king took Amelia, Orte, Bomarzo, and Bieda, but still the pope refused to release his refugee. Gregory even wrote to ask Charles Martel, Duke of the Franks, for assistance. Charles, however, refused.

In December 740, Thrasimund recovered his duchy and killed Hilderic with Papal-Beneventan aid, but did not return the confiscated papal cities and his alliance with the pope ruptured.