Editing Desiderius (section)

==Carolingian Intervention==
While Pepin’s previous military campaigns in Italy against Desiderius' Lombard predecessors had been successful, the subsequent relations between the papacy (aligned with the [[Carolingians]]) and the Lombards were correspondingly strained and in 773, Pope Hadrian openly broke with king Desiderius.{{sfn|Koenigsberger|1987|p=85}} When Desiderius responded by moving against the papal cities, Hadrian immediately appealed to Charlemagne for help against the Lombards.{{sfn|Koenigsberger|1987|p=85}} Since the Lombards had blocked the passage through the Alps, Pope Hadrian had to send his embassy by sea; they were commissioned to remind Charlemagne that he was the protector of the papacy.{{sfn|Riché|1993|pp=96–97}}

Originally, Charlemagne had remained on amicable terms with the Lombards, having been married to Desiderius’ daughter, Desiderata.{{sfn|Fried|2015|p=43}}{{efn|Moreover, Desiderius—in concert with Charlemagne—wanted to ensure there was more than one Carolingian king involved with the papacy and with access to Italy, since the title of ''patricius Romanorum'' was shared by both Carloman and Charlemagne (Carloman also controlled Frankish access through the Alps).{{sfn|Bachrach|Bachrach|2017|p=357}} }} Despite not liking the alliance between Lombards and Franks, Stephen III grudgingly maintained positive diplomatic standing with both kings, but his death in February 772 and the elevation of Pope Hadrian, who wished to undermine this relationship, altered the political environment.{{sfn|Bachrach|Bachrach|2017|pp=357–358}} Hadrian hedged his bets and took measures to provoke Desiderius; actions designed to make him take an aggressive stance against the Holy See so an appeal could be made for Frankish assistance.{{sfn|Bachrach|Bachrach|2017|pp=358–359}} Upon hearing the call for help, Charlemagne obliged the Holy See.{{sfn|James|1995|pp=94–95}}{{efn|According to the ''Annales regni francorum'', this legate from the Pope to Charlemagne arrived in 773.{{sfn|McKitterick|2008|p=28}} }} [[Carloman I|Carloman's]] death also changed the situation.{{sfn|Fried|2015|p=43}} It seems the widow of Charlemagne’s brother (Carloman) and her children had taken refuge with Desiderius, who—so it was alleged in the ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]''—intended to proclaim a Frankish successor. According to historian Roger Collins, the veracity of this claim can be questioned as a possible piece of disinformation from the papacy "intended to ensure the Frankish king’s help against the Lombards."{{sfn|Collins|1999|p=282}}

During the spring of 773, Charlemagne sent two Frankish armies against the Lombards and after an eight month siege, captured the capital of Pavia and Desiderius himself.{{sfn|Bachrach|Bachrach|2017|p=359}}{{efn|The renowned Frankish king also took the city of Pavia, where Desiderius' son Adelchis had taken residence with Carloman's remaining family.{{sfn|Frassetto|2003|p=142}} }}  Charlemagne subsequently exiled the Lombard king to the [[Corbie Abbey|abbey of Corbie]] in northern France,{{sfn|Riché|1993|p=98}} and as “king of the Franks”, added the title “and of the Lombards”, lengthening his moniker.{{sfn|James|1995|p=95}} When Charlemagne took the title ''rex Langobardorum'', it marked the first time a Germanic king adopted the title of a kingdom he had conquered.{{sfn|Davis|2015|p=412}} Although Charlemagne had the power to destroy the Lombards outright, he instead permitted them to "retain their laws and pardoned those who were traitors."{{sfn|Riché|1993|p=98}} In the end, Desiderius's ambitions brought about the end of the Lombard kingdom and he was the final Lombard king on record.{{sfn|Frassetto|2003|p=143}}