Saint Theodelinda

Theodelinda, also spelled Theudelinde (c. 570 – 628 AD), was a queen of the Lombards through marriage to two successive Lombard kings, Authari and Agilulf. She later served as regent of the Kingdom of the Lombards during the minority of her son, Adaloald, and as co-regent after he came of age, from 616 to 626. For well over thirty years, she wielded considerable influence throughout the Lombard realm, which encompassed much of Italy between the Apennines and the Alps. She was the daughter of duke Garibald I of Bavaria and Waldrada. Born a Bavarian princess to King Garibald, Theodelinda's heritage included being descended on her mother's side from the previous Lombard king, Waco, whose family had ruled seven generations prior according tradition. Theodelinda was married first in 588 to Authari, king of the Lombards, son of King Cleph. There are indications that Pope Gregory I may have had an interest in encouraging this marriage as it would tie a Bavarian Catholic with the Arian Lombards, something he did previously, when he promoted the marriage between the Frankish princess Bertha —great-granddaughter of Clovis I—and the Kentish Æthelberht of Kent. Theodelinda's time with Authari was brief for he died in 590. 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. Historian Roger Collins has misgivings with this claim—which stems from Paul the Deacon—and instead, asserts that both political bargaining or naked force were more likely attributable to her choice. Whatever the real situation, a mere two months after Authari's death, Theodelinda picked Agilulf as her next husband and the two were wed. She thereafter exerted much influence in restoring Nicene Christianity to a position of primacy in Italy against its rival, Arian Christianity. Her reach extended across most of the Italian peninsula between the Apennines and the Alps.