The Widonids (Italian: Guideschi) were an Italian family of Frankish origin prominent in the 9th century.

Frankish kingdoms (West-Francia, East-Francia, Italy, Upper Burgundy and Lower Burgundy) at the end of the 9th century. The Kingdom of Italy, with the Duchy of Spoleto is highlighted in pink.

They were an aggressive dynasty that expanded their power base, the Duchy of Spoleto, at the expense of the neighboring Papal States and in alliance with the Carolingian dynasty, to whom they were related through the female line and thus were able to aspire to the imperial throne. The Widonids and the Rorgonids competed for control of the Breton March through much of the ninth century.

The first member of the family to attain prominence was Lambert's son Guy I, who was made duke of Spoleto by the Emperor Lothair I in 842. He was active in Lotharingia and Italy, even marrying a local Lombard woman, Itta (or Itana), the daughter of Sico of Benevento. His descendants continued to rule Spoleto until 897.

The most famous Guidoni were Guy III and his son Lambert II. Both became kings of Italy and emperors. Guy IV of Spoleto also became Duke of Benevento.

Genealogy

Widonids and their relatives, with the names of kings and emperors bolded.
Charlemagne emperorLambertTeutberga Pepin of Italy king of ItalyGuy of Nantes warden of the Breton MarchFrodoals count of Vannes Adelaide of ItalyLambert I of Nantes count of Nantes, duke of SpoletoIttaLothair I emperor, king of Middle Francia Guy I of Spoleto duke of SpoletoIda of Benevento daughter of Sico of BeneventoLambert II of Nantes count of NantesRotrude of Middle FranciaLothair II king of Lotharingia Lambert I of Spoleto duke of SpoletoJudith of FriuliGuy III of Spoleto emperor, king of ItalyAgeltrude of BeneventoRothilde of SpoletoAdalbert I, Margrave of Tuscany Guy II of Spoleto duke of SpoletoLambert of Italy emperor, king of ItalyAdalbert II, Margrave of TuscanyBertha of Lotharingia Guy IV of Spoleto duke of SpoletoItta of SpoletoGuaimar I of Salerno Prince of SalernoAdalbert I of Ivrea margrave of IvreaErmengarde of TuscanyGuy, Margrave of TuscanyLambert, Margrave of Tuscany Dauferid Dynasty princes of SalernoAnscar of Spoleto duke of Spoleto
Charlemagne emperorLambertTeutberga
Pepin of Italy king of ItalyGuy of Nantes warden of the Breton MarchFrodoals count of Vannes
Adelaide of ItalyLambert I of Nantes count of Nantes, duke of SpoletoIttaLothair I emperor, king of Middle Francia
Guy I of Spoleto duke of SpoletoIda of Benevento daughter of Sico of BeneventoLambert II of Nantes count of NantesRotrude of Middle FranciaLothair II king of Lotharingia
Lambert I of Spoleto duke of SpoletoJudith of FriuliGuy III of Spoleto emperor, king of ItalyAgeltrude of BeneventoRothilde of SpoletoAdalbert I, Margrave of Tuscany
Guy II of Spoleto duke of SpoletoLambert of Italy emperor, king of ItalyAdalbert II, Margrave of TuscanyBertha of Lotharingia
Guy IV of Spoleto duke of SpoletoItta of SpoletoGuaimar I of Salerno Prince of SalernoAdalbert I of Ivrea margrave of IvreaErmengarde of TuscanyGuy, Margrave of TuscanyLambert, Margrave of Tuscany
Dauferid Dynasty princes of SalernoAnscar of Spoleto duke of Spoleto

Explanatory notes

Citations

Sources

Cited sources

  • Barton, Richard E., Lordship in the County of Maine, c. 890-1160, Boydell Press, 2004 (available on )

General sources

  • Caravale, Mario (ed.). Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani: LXI Guglielmo Gonzaga – Jacobini. Rome, 2003.
  • Caravale, Mario (ed.). Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani: LXIII Labroca – Laterza. Rome, 2004.
  • Wickham, Chris. Early Medieval Italy: Central Power and Local Society 400–1000. MacMillan Press: 1981.