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Perctarit (also Berthari) (died 688) was the first Catholic Church king of the Lombards who lead a religiously divided kingdom during the 7th Century. He ruled from 661 to 662 the first time and later from 671 to 688. He is significant for making Catholicism the official religion, sparing the life of an invading leader, and building projects around the capital.
He was one of two sons and successors of Aripert I who took power after the assassination of Rodoald. He shared power with his older brother Godepert. They were from the Bavarian dynasty kings of the Lombards who descended from Garibald I.
In 6th and 7th century, any aspirant to power in Lombard politics might obtain legitimacy by becoming married to or deriving from a female member of the Lombard royal dynasty. The fact that Aripert I was the nephew of the well-known Lombard Queen Theodelinda may have played an integral part in his claim to the throne. Marrying a former queen or daughter of a monarch is a way to claim power.
The cultural origins of the Lombards are shown in the Origo Gentis Langobardorum mentioning many Paganism aspects of heroes, deities, and linking Lombards to brave and honorable lineage that is vital to understanding early Lombard culture. (1974). 9780812210798, University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 9780812210798 The Pagan roots of Lombard people helps to understand the religious and societal divide encountered during this power struggle between Grimoald and Perctarit’s reign.
Godepert called for the aid of Duke Grimoald I of Benevento in a war with Perctarit but Grimoald instead chose to attack Godepert who ruled over Pavia the capital city of the kingdom of the Lombards. (1974). 9780812210798, University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 9780812210798 The city held cultural significance for Lombard identity and held a special value as their promised land. This meaning had strong ties to Christianity as King Alboin had mercy on Christians when taking the city for the Lombards. Pavia became the capital of the Lombard monarchy. This is significant to Grimoald as he was an outsider to the current Lombard royal dynasty.
The Beneventan had Godepert assassinated and took control of the kingdom, forcing Perctarit to flee. Perctarit first arrived at the court of the Pannonian Avars khagan Kakar. Meanwhile, his wife, Rodelinde, and their son Cunipert were captured by Grimoald and sent to Benevento. Perctarit returned soon thereafter to conspire against Grimoald, but fled again to Francia. When Grimoald concluded a treaty with the Frankish Empire, Perctarit prepared to flee to Great Britain, but news of Grimoald's death reached him first.
After killing Godepert, Grimoald acts quickly and confirms his claim to the throne by marrying into the royal Lombard bloodline. He marries a daughter of Aripert I, a sister of Godepert, to claim his spot as King of the Lombards. Grimoald attempted to kill Perctarit as well forcing him to flee any assassination attempts.
Grimoald’s reign shows the divide between Christians with Arians and Catholics both wanting to be the official religion. Yet, Pagan traditionalists are still popular in the Lombards as well. These three groups are fighting for support from the King and Grimoald causes divides that Perctarit will later try to mend. The Easter Day capture of Forlì by Grimoald caused unrest between pagans and Orthodox Christians, as many Christians were killed in the celebrations. This act of violence against Christians shows that Paganism is not as inconsequential to Lombard society as even though Christianity has played a strong role in the foundation of the Lombard empire and conquest of the Italian Peninsula.
While Perctarit has fled, Grimoald has troubles from invading forces trying to take over. Notably the Avars into Venetia which he repelled and a Franks army that was sent from the Western Alps. Constans II launched an attack on Grimoald while Frankish forces attacked yet the Lombards held as Constans forces got held up in other battles. With these important victories for the Lombards Grimoald was held in a popular view. Despite some popularity, when he is assassinated in 671 the Lombards do not elect the new King to be either of his two sons or his daughter. Instead, they choose to recall their exiled King Perctarit after 10 years to return as King of the Lombards. Perctarit prepared to sail to Britain, but news of Grimoald's death reached him first and he returned to Italy.
He is responsible for the building of the famous nunnery of Saint Agatha and Church of the Virgin outside of Pavia the capital city. These building projects aim to strengthen the Catholicism in Lombard society and unite the people under one branch of Christianity. Perctarit is significant to the cultural context of the Lombards as he introduced Catholicism to the empire but does not validate Papacy authority which is a trend that will continue within the Lombards. Being in such close ties to the Pope this will later become a problem the Carolingians will have to help solve.
Though Perctarit was peaceful in his reign the kingdom of the Lombards will not remain this way long. Cunipert, son of Perctarit, provided aid and guidance during the reign of his father starting in Perctarit’s eighth year. Cunipert supports him through the last ten years of his reign. (1974). 9780812210798, University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 9780812210798 In History of the Langobards Paul describes Cunipert as influential to Perctarit’s mercy on Alahis after he is captured during the rebellion. (1974). 9780812210798, University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 9780812210798 Cunipert will succeed Perctarit as king after he is killed in 688. He was succeeded by his more combative son, who would battle against the man his father had captured and released.
His daughter Wigilinda married Duke Grimoald II of Benevento, son of Romuald I of Benevento. Perctarit and Rodelinde themselves were to live on in opera as the Bertarido and Rodelinda of Handel's Rodelinda, Regina de' Longobardi, though not much of their actual history survived in Nicola Francesco Haym's libretto, drawn more from Pierre Corneille's Pertharite than from Historia Langobardorum. He was buried in the Basilica of Santissimo Salvatore in Pavia.
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