Walfred of Friuli
Encyclopedia
Walfred (died 896) was the Count of Verona
and then Margrave of Friuli in the last decades of the ninth century.
Walfred was an early supporter of Berengar of Friuli in his bid for the Iron Crown of Lombardy
following Charles the Fat
's deposition in 887. He was described as his "highest counsellor." He was a consiliarius and marchio by appointment of Charles and he was the greatest magnate in eastern Lombardy after Berengar. He even succeeded Berengar in Friuli, but under what circumstances scholarly opinion is divided.
He may have succeeded Berengar, by Berengar's appointment around 890, when he is last heard in Friuli. The Annales Fuldenses
under the year 896, tell how Walfred died in office and how he had held Verona
with "great fidelity to the emperor," meaning Arnulf of Carinthia
, specifying that his death was the circumstance for Berengar to reassert his claim to kingship after his falling out with Arnulf earlier that year. It has been suggested that Walfred was placed in Berengar's office by Arnulf in 896 after Berengar's defection from Arnulf's camp early in that year. Walfred held Friuli less than a year in that case.
March of Verona
The March of Verona and Aquileia was a vast march in northeastern Italy during the Middle Ages, centered on the cities of Verona and Aquileia. Except for Venice, it included the territories of the modern-day regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia as well as Istria and Trentino up to the Adige...
and then Margrave of Friuli in the last decades of the ninth century.
Walfred was an early supporter of Berengar of Friuli in his bid for the Iron Crown of Lombardy
Iron Crown of Lombardy
The Iron Crown of Lombardy is both a reliquary and one of the most ancient royal insignia of Europe. The crown became one of the symbols of the Kingdom of Lombards and later of the medieval Kingdom of Italy...
following Charles the Fat
Charles the Fat
Charles the Fat was the King of Alemannia from 876, King of Italy from 879, western Emperor from 881, King of East Francia from 882, and King of West Francia from 884. In 887, he was deposed in East Francia, Lotharingia, and possibly Italy, where the records are not clear...
's deposition in 887. He was described as his "highest counsellor." He was a consiliarius and marchio by appointment of Charles and he was the greatest magnate in eastern Lombardy after Berengar. He even succeeded Berengar in Friuli, but under what circumstances scholarly opinion is divided.
He may have succeeded Berengar, by Berengar's appointment around 890, when he is last heard in Friuli. The Annales Fuldenses
Annales Fuldenses
The Annales Fuldenses or Annals of Fulda are East Frankish chronicles that cover independently the period from the last years of Louis the Pious to shortly after the end of effective Carolingian rule in East Francia with the accession of the child-king, Louis III, in 900...
under the year 896, tell how Walfred died in office and how he had held Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
with "great fidelity to the emperor," meaning Arnulf of Carinthia
Arnulf of Carinthia
Arnulf of Carinthia was the Carolingian King of East Francia from 887, the disputed King of Italy from 894 and the disputed Holy Roman Emperor from February 22, 896 until his death.-Birth and Illegitimacy:...
, specifying that his death was the circumstance for Berengar to reassert his claim to kingship after his falling out with Arnulf earlier that year. It has been suggested that Walfred was placed in Berengar's office by Arnulf in 896 after Berengar's defection from Arnulf's camp early in that year. Walfred held Friuli less than a year in that case.