Romuald I duke of Benevento (662–677) was the son of Grimoald, king of the Lombards

Lombards

The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...

. He received Benevento when his father usurped the throne in 662. Grimoald sent the deposed king Perctarit

Perctarit

Perctarit was king of the Lombards from 661 to 662 the first time and later from 671 to 688. He was the son and successor of Aripert I. He shared power with his brother Godepert. He was a Catholic, Godepert an Arian. He ruled from Milan, Godepert from Pavia...

's wife Rodelinde and son Cunincpert to the court of his son in Benevento.

Romuald betrothed his sister Gisa to Byzantine Emperor Constans II. The Byzantines

Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...

 were then besieging Benevento and Romuald's valiant defence of the city was failing, when Grimoald showed up and routed the Byzantine menace. Romuald then took Taranto

Taranto

Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....

 and Brindisi

Brindisi

Brindisi is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Historically, the city has played an important role in commerce and culture, due to its position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city...

, much limiting the Byzantine influence in the region. He received military aid from the Bulgar

Bulgars

The Bulgars were a semi-nomadic who flourished in the Pontic Steppe and the Volga basin in the 7th century.The Bulgars emerge after the collapse of the Hunnic Empire in the 5th century....

 Alcek

Alcek

Alcek was the leader of Bulgar horde that settled in the villages of Gallo Matese, Sepino, Boiano and Isernia in the Matese mountains of central Italy. His name is variously spelled Altsek, Altzek, or Alzec....

 horde

Horde

Horde may refer to:* Ordo * a clan or army of steppe nomads . See Orda * the Blue and White Horde, formed 1226, 1227* the Golden Horde, a Turkic-Mongol state established in the 1240s...

, which had resided in the south of the peninsula since the fall of Rome. In return he gave them grazing rights

Grazing rights

Grazing rights is a legal term referring to the right of a user to allow their livestock to feed in a given area.- United States :...

 in 667.

Romuald never saw the kingdom his father had won and so well defended, Perctarit returned and ceased the kingship.

He was succeeded by his son by Theodrada, daughter of Duke Lupus of Friuli

Lupus of Friuli

Lupus was the Duke of Friuli from between 660 and 663 to his death around 666.Immediately after succeeded to Friuli, Lupus invaded Grado with a body of cavalry and plundered the city, then proceeding to Aquileia, where he stole the treasures of the Patriarchate.When King Grimoald went south to...

, Grimoald II

Grimoald II of Benevento

Grimoald II was the duke of Benevento from 677 to his death. He was the son and successor of Romuald I of Benevento. He was possibly under the regency of his mother, Theodrada, daughter of Lupus of Friuli. His reign of three years was uneventful: Paul the Deacon records nothing but his marriage...

.