Baldric of Friuli
Encyclopedia
Baldric or Balderic was the Duke of Friuli
(dux Foroiuliensis) from 819, when he replaced Cadolah
according to Thegan of Trier
in his Vita Hludowici imperatoris, until 828, when he was removed from office: the last Duke of Friuli.
Baldric was an imperial legate
in 815, when he crossed into Zealand with an army of Saxons
and Abotrites to restore the deposed King of Denmark, Harald Klak
.
As ruler of Friuli, Baldric continued Cadolah's war against Ljudevit Posavski
(Liudovitus), the Pannonia
n Croat leader. He was successful in expelling Ljudevit from imperial territory. He and Count Gerold also made war on the Avars
at the order of Bertric, the count of the palace, in 826.
With George, presbyter
of Venice
, he conducted an hydraulic organ
to Aachen
in 826.
In 828, Baldric was removed from Friuli for his failure to have mounted an effective defense against the Bulgars during their invasion of 827, and the dukedom was divided into four counties. Eventually the counties would be united under a marchio (margrave
), but the duchy would never be restored.
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...
(dux Foroiuliensis) from 819, when he replaced Cadolah
Cadolah of Friuli
Cadolah was the Duke of Friuli from 817 to his death. He was a son of Count Berthold and an Ahalolfinger....
according to Thegan of Trier
Thegan of Trier
Thegan of Trier was a Frankish Roman Catholic prelate and the author of Gesta Hludowici imperatoris which is a principal source for the life of the Holy Roman Emperor Louis the Pious, the son and successor of Charlemagne.-Biography:Very little is known of Thegan's life; he appears to have come...
in his Vita Hludowici imperatoris, until 828, when he was removed from office: the last Duke of Friuli.
Baldric was an imperial legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
in 815, when he crossed into Zealand with an army of Saxons
Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
and Abotrites to restore the deposed King of Denmark, Harald Klak
Harald Klak
Harald 'Klak' Halfdansson was a king in Jutland around 812–814 and again from 819–827.-Family:...
.
As ruler of Friuli, Baldric continued Cadolah's war against Ljudevit Posavski
Ljudevit Posavski
Ljudevit Posavski was a Croatian Duke of Pannonian Croatia from 810 to 823. The capital of his realm was in Sisak. As the ruler of the Pannonian Slavs, he led an unsuccessful resistance to Frankish domination. He held close ties with the Carantanian and Carniolan tribes and with the Serbian tribe...
(Liudovitus), the Pannonia
Pannonia
Pannonia was an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia....
n Croat leader. He was successful in expelling Ljudevit from imperial territory. He and Count Gerold also made war on the Avars
Eurasian Avars
The Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turko-Mongol groups...
at the order of Bertric, the count of the palace, in 826.
With George, presbyter
Presbyter
Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations, then a synonym of episkopos...
of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, he conducted an hydraulic organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
to Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
in 826.
In 828, Baldric was removed from Friuli for his failure to have mounted an effective defense against the Bulgars during their invasion of 827, and the dukedom was divided into four counties. Eventually the counties would be united under a marchio (margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
), but the duchy would never be restored.
Sources
- Thegan of TrierThegan of TrierThegan of Trier was a Frankish Roman Catholic prelate and the author of Gesta Hludowici imperatoris which is a principal source for the life of the Holy Roman Emperor Louis the Pious, the son and successor of Charlemagne.-Biography:Very little is known of Thegan's life; he appears to have come...
. Vita Hludowici Imperatoris. - EinhardEinhardEinhard was a Frankish scholar and courtier. Einhard was a dedicated servant of Charlemagne and his son Louis the Pious; his main work is a biography of Charlemagne, the Vita Karoli Magni, "one of the most precious literary bequests of the early Middle Ages."-Public life:Einhard was from the eastern...
. Life of Charlemagne. - Annales Fuldenses translated by Timothy Reuter, with commentary (subscription needed).
- Annales Regni Francorum - http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/annalesregnifrancorum.html