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Rothari (or Rothair) ( 606–652), of the Harodingi, was king of the Lombards from 636 to 652; previously he had been duke of Brescia. He succeeded Arioald, who was an Arianism like himself, and was one of the most energetic of Lombard kings. Fredegar relates ( Chronicle, 71) that at the beginning of his reign he put to death many insubordinate nobles, and that in his efforts for peace he maintained very strict discipline.
With these quick conquests, he left the Byzantine Empire with only the Ravennan marshes in northern Italy. The exarch of Ravenna, Plato, tried to regain some territory, but his invading army was defeated by Rothari on the banks of the Scultenna (the Panaro) near Modena, with the loss of 8,000 men, in 645. However, he recaptured Oderzo at same year. Oderzo finally was razed again by Grimoald in 667.
Although not of the dominant Bavarian dynasty that controlled much of the succession between 616 and 712, Rothari reinforced his position by marrying into it, following the same pattern later taken by Grimoald of Benevento. Like Grimoald, he fought the Byzantine Empire and issued laws, establishing himself as both a warrior and a lawgiver. His reign represents the acceptance of two cornerstones of the Lombard political tradition: the Romanized court of Agilulf and the codification of Lombard law.
He was succeeded by his son Rodoald. A baptistery in Monte Sant'Angelo is traditionally known as the "Tomb of Rothari", although he was probably buried in the church of San Giovanni Domnarum in Pavia, founded by his wife Gundeberga.
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