Duchy of Benevento

Duchy (Principality) of Benevento Ducatus (Principatus) Beneventi (Latin)
577–1053
Calvary cross potent motif was commonly minted on coins by various princes
The Principality of Benevento shown within Italy in 1000
Status	Vassal state of the Kingdom of the Lombards
Capital	Benevento
Common languages	Lombardic Vulgar Latin Byzantine Greek
Religion	Chalcedonian Christianity (official), Arianism (former)
Government	Monarchy
Duke / Prince
• 571–591	Zotto (first duke)
• 774–787	Arechis II (last duke & first prince)
• 1059–1077	Landulf VI (last prince)
History
• Established	577
• Frankish conquest of the Kingdom of the Lombards	774
• Disestablished (Norman conquest of southern Italy)	1053
Currency	Solidus, tremissis, denarius
Preceded by Succeeded by Byzantine Empire Kingdom of the Lombards County of Apulia and Calabria
Today part of	Italy

The Duchy of Benevento (after 774, Principality of Benevento) was the southernmost Lombard duchy in the Italian Peninsula that was centred on Benevento, a city in Southern Italy. Lombard dukes ruled Benevento from 571 to 1077, when it was conquered by the Normans for four years before it was given to the Pope. Being cut off from the rest of the Lombard possessions by the papal Duchy of Rome, Benevento was practically independent from the start. Only during the reigns of Grimoald (r. 662–671) and the kings from Liutprand (r. 712–744) on was the duchy closely tied to the Kingdom of the Lombards. After the fall of the kingdom in 774, the duchy became the sole Lombard territory which continued to exist as a rump state, maintaining its de facto independence for nearly 300 years, although it was divided after 849. Benevento dwindled in size in the early 11th century, and was completely captured by the Norman Robert Guiscard in 1053.

Paul the Deacon refers to Benevento as the "Samnite Duchy" (Ducatum Samnitium) after the region of Samnium.^[1]