NameBernard I , King of Italy and the Lombards
Birthabt 797
Death17 Aug 818
Misc. Notes
Bernard (d.818) was the king of Italy from 810 to 817, when he was deposed by his uncle Emperor Louis the Pious, or 818, when he was killed by a traumatic blinding procedure.
Bernard was the illegitimate son of King Pepin, the third son of the Emperor Charlemagne. In 817, Louis the Pious partitioned the empire among his three sons. He gave his eldest Lothair Italy. Bernard rebelled against his uncle with the support of Bishop Theodulf of Orléans, but decided not to fight. He met with the emperor on a safe conduct guarantee, but was convicted before even realising he was on trial. Louis had Bernard blinded and imprisoned. The blinding procedure was so traumatic, he died. His death grieved Louis, and his display of penance to the court in 822 at Attigny reduced his prestige and respect amongst the Frankish nobility.
Bernard had a son with Cunigunda, Pepin of Vermandois.
Spouses
Birthabt 796
Deathabt 835