Winiges of Spoleto

Winiges or Winichis (contemporary Latin "Winigisus"; died 822) was the Duke of Spoleto ("dux Spolitanus") from 789 to his death. He was probably a Frank in the entourage of Charlemagne when he was sent in 788 to lead Hildeprand of Spoleto and Grimoald III of Benevento in cooperation with Frankish troops against a Byzantine invasion.

In this, his first recorded action, he was successful, defeating the Greeks led by Theodoros in Apulia. Hildeprand, however, died on the campaign and Charlemagne appointed Winiges to succeed him in the Duchy of Spoleto.

Winiges was appointed by Charlemagne to act as his "missus dominicus" in the Ducatus Romae and he was at Saint Peter's Basilica when Pope Leo III was assaulted on 25 April 799. It was then he who brought him to shelter in Spoleto until he could safely return to Rome.

Winiges got involved in a war with Grimoald of Benevento, however, and was captured while being besieged at Lucera in 802. He was held captive for a year before being released in 803. [Hodgkin, VIII, 256. According to Einhard, "Grimaldus Beneventanorum dux" captured "Winigisum comitem Spoletii" at "Luceria" and "held [him] in honourable captivity" until the next year. According to the "Annales Fuldenses", he was both besieged and captured by "Grimoldo" in 803.]

While Leo III was nearing death in 815, the Roman citizens revolted, but King Bernard sent Winiges to Rome to quell the unrest.

In 822, Winiges abdicated his worldy office and retired to a monastery, where he died not too long after (probably that same year). [Hodgkin, VIII, 51. Einhard.] His successor was Suppo I, "Brixiæ civitatis comes" ("Count of the city of Brescia"). [Royal Frankish Annals and Einhard.]

References

*Hodgkin, Thomas. "Italy and her Invaders". Clarendon Press: 1895.
* [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORTHERN%20ITALY%20900-1100.htm#_Toc145061951 Foundation for Medieval Genealogy: Northern Italy — Spoleto.]

Footnotes