Editing Pope Gregory II (section)

==Relations with the Lombards==
Gregory attempted to remain on good diplomatic terms with the [[Lombards]], and especially with their king, Liutprand. In April 716 he managed to get Liutprand to agree not to retake the [[Cottian Alps]], which had been granted to the Roman Church in the reign of [[Aripert II]].<ref>Mann, pg. 169</ref> However, the semi-independent Lombard [[Duchy of Benevento]], under the expansionist duke [[Romuald II of Benevento|Romuald II]], resumed hostilities by capturing [[Cumae]] in 717, cutting [[Rome]] off from [[Naples]].<ref>Mann, pgs. 169–170</ref> Neither threats of divine retribution nor outright bribery made an impression on Romuald, and so Gregory appealed to Duke [[John I of Naples]], funding his campaign to successfully retake Cumae.<ref>Mann, pg. 170</ref>

That same year saw the Lombard duke [[Faroald II of Spoleto]], capture [[Port of Ravenna|Classis]], the port of [[Ravenna]]. Gregory brokered a deal with Liutprand, who forced Faroald to return it to the [[Exarch of Ravenna]].<ref>Mann, pg. 171</ref> Perceiving that the Lombard threat would continue to fester and they would take imperial territory in Italy a piece at a time, in around 721 Gregory appealed to the [[Franks]], asking [[Charles Martel]] to intervene and drive out the Lombards. Charles however, did not respond to the request.<ref>Mann, pgs. 171–172</ref> A law issued by Liutprand in 723 (No. 33) prohibits a man from marrying the widow of his cousin on either mother's or father's side, and specifically states that the "Pope in the city of Rome" [papa urbis romae] had sent him a letter exhorting him to issue this legislation,<ref>Bluhme ed. pgs. 123–124</ref> indicating a degree of cordial communication between them. [[Byzantine Empire|Imperial]] weakness in Italy encouraged further Lombard incursions, and in 725, they captured the fortress of [[Narni]].

Then in 727, with the [[Exarchate of Ravenna]] in chaos over the [[Byzantine Emperor]]’s [[iconoclast]] decrees (see below), the Lombards captured and destroyed Classis and overran the [[Duchy of the Pentapolis|Pentapolis]].<ref>Mann, pg. 187</ref> Although Classis was retaken in 728, fighting continued between Byzantine forces and the Lombards until 729, when Gregory brokered a deal between Liutprand and the Byzantine [[exarch]], [[Eutychius (exarch)|Eutychius]], bringing about a temporary ceasing of hostilities that held until Gregory’s death.<ref>Ekonomou, pg. 299; Mann, pgs. 197–198</ref> Gregory and Liutprand met in 729 at the ancient city of [[Sutri]]. Here, the two reached an agreement, known as the [[Donation of Sutri]], whereby Sutri and some hill towns in [[Latium]] (see [[Vetralla]]) were given to the [[papacy]].<ref>Bury, pg. 444</ref> They were the first extension of papal territory beyond the confines of the [[Duchy of Rome]]