Landulf II (died 961) was a Lombard Prince of Capua and Benevento, who reigned from 943 as co-prince with his father, Landulf I, and then as sole ruler from 949 until his death in 961. His reign was characterized by shifting alliances and conflicts in the turbulent political landscape of southern Italy, marked by the competing influences of the Byzantine Empire and the emerging Ottonian Holy Roman Empire.
Early Life and Accession
Landulf II was the son of Landulf I of Capua and Benevento and his wife Maria. He began co-ruling with his father in 943, a common practice in Lombard principalities to ensure a smooth succession. Upon the death of Landulf I in 949, Landulf II became the sole prince of both Capua and Benevento.
Reign and Political Landscape
Landulf II's rule took place during a period of intense power struggles in Southern Italy. The region was divided among various Lombard principalities (Capua, Benevento, Salerno), the Byzantine Catapanate of Italy, and increasingly, the influence of the Holy Roman Emperors to the north.
- Initial Byzantine Alignment: Following his father's death, Landulf II initially pursued an alliance with the Byzantine Empire, which sought to reassert its control over Southern Italy. He paid tribute to the Byzantine strategos of Calabria and Apulia.
- Conflict with Monte Cassino: Landulf II engaged in disputes with the powerful Abbey of Monte Cassino, attempting to seize its properties and influence, which led to interventions from the Papacy.
- Alliance with Otto I: Faced with the increasing pressure and territorial ambitions of the Byzantine Empire, Landulf II made a significant strategic shift around 959. He allied with Emperor Otto I of the Holy Roman Empire, a move that brought the Western Emperor more directly into the affairs of Southern Italy. This alliance was a precursor to Otto I's later campaigns to assert imperial authority over the region.
- Shifting Alliances with Salerno: Landulf II also engaged in complex relationships with his Lombard neighbor, Gisulf I of Salerno, oscillating between alliance and conflict.
Legacy
Landulf II's reign laid the groundwork for the more direct involvement of the Ottonian Emperors in Southern Italy, a process that would intensify under his successor, his son Pandulf Ironhead. His shifting loyalties highlight the precarious position of the Lombard princes caught between two great empires.
Family
Landulf II was married to Yvanna (or Yvonne), and they had several children, including:
- Pandulf Ironhead: Who succeeded him as Prince of Capua and Benevento, and later became Prince of Salerno and Duke of Spoleto.
- Landulf
- Atenulf