Hunald II

Hunald II was the Duke of Aquitaine from 769 to 771. He was the son of Waiofar, the previous Duke, who had led Aquitaine in resistance against the expanding Frankish kingdom under Pepin the Short.

After Waiofar's assassination in 768, Aquitaine briefly came under the control of Hunald I, Waiofar's presumed relative (possibly his brother or uncle), who had previously abdicated the duchy and entered a monastery. However, Hunald I quickly rebelled against the Franks. Charles, the son of Pepin (later Charlemagne), suppressed this revolt brutally in 769, blinding Hunald I and returning him to the monastery.

The next year, 769, Hunald II, Waiofar's son, inherited the leadership of Aquitaine. He renewed the Aquitainian resistance against the Franks. However, unlike his predecessors, Hunald II lacked sufficient power and support to effectively challenge Charles. He also faced internal divisions within Aquitaine.

In 771, Charles launched another campaign into Aquitaine. Facing overwhelming Frankish forces, Hunald II fled to the court of Duke Lupus II of Gascony. Charles demanded that Lupus II surrender Hunald II. Fearing the Franks, Lupus II betrayed Hunald II, delivering him to Charles. With Hunald II's capture, organised Aquitainian resistance crumbled, and Charles consolidated Frankish control over the region. Nothing further is known about Hunald II's fate after his surrender. His capture marked the end of Aquitaine as an independent duchy.