Editing Theodelinda (section)

===Second marriage===
[[File:Map Longobard-Byzantine Italy- Touring Club Italiano CART-TRC-43 01.jpg|thumb|Map of Italy in 603 a.C.]]
So highly esteemed across the Lombard kingdom was Theodelinda that when Authari died, she was asked to remain in power and to choose a successor.{{sfn|Frassetto|2003|p=341}} Historian Roger Collins has misgivings with this claim—which stems from [[Paul the Deacon]]{{efn|Despite frequently and consistently pointing out the flaws and political antagonism of queens and duchesses throughout his texts, Paul the Deacon makes an exception with Theodelinda, who he depicts in a very favorable light, making her into a heroine.{{sfn|Wickham|2009|p=197}}}}—and instead, asserts that both political bargaining or naked force were more likely attributable to her choice.{{sfn|Collins|1999|p=209}} Whatever the real situation, a mere two months after Authari's death, Theodelinda picked Agilulf as her next husband and the two were wed.{{sfn|Hartmann|1913|p=201}}{{efn|The same year that Agilulf assumed the Lombard throne, the Pope Pelagius II had died and [[Pope Gregory I|Gregory the Great]] became pontiff.{{sfn|Bauer|2010|p=256}} }} She thereafter exerted much influence in restoring [[Nicene Christianity]] to a position of primacy in [[Italy]] against its rival, [[Arianism|Arian Christianity]]. Her reach extended across most of the Italian peninsula between the Apennines and the Alps.{{sfn|Marina|2013|p=386}}

While her husband Agilulf retained his Arian faith, he allowed his son with Theodelinda to be baptized a Catholic.{{sfn|Todd|2004|p=228}} The Lombard king faced trouble from his dukes, who were convinced that he had consigned himself instead to the faith of the conquered.{{sfn|Silva|1913}} Agilulf did not permit Theodelinda's faith to shape his policies against the Byzantines.{{sfn|Todd|2004|p=228}}  Frequently, Theodelinda corresponded with Pope Gregory (590–604) in letters, some of which are recorded by the eighth-century historian, Paul the Deacon.{{sfn|Frassetto|2003|p=341}} Some of the content in these letters concerned her husband's conversion.{{sfn|Brown|1995|p=42}} To further promulgate the Christian faith of the Catholics, she also welcomed Catholic missionaries across her realm.{{sfn|Frassetto|2003|p=341}} Taking full advantage of her piety and possibly to incentivize her continued Catholic proclivities, Pope Gregory sent her a series of silver ampullas of Syro-Palestinian craftsmanship, a gospel casket, and a golden cross from Byzantium.{{sfn|Wallace-Hadrill|2004|pp=53–54}} The cross was gem-encrusted and was meant as a symbol of the "impending Kingdom of God".{{sfn|Fried|2015|p=28}}{{efn|Historian Johannes Fried relates that this cross is known as the "Gregory crucifix" and is well preserved to this day.{{sfn|Fried|2015|p=28}}}}