TheudebaldorTheutbaldwas theDuke of Alamanniafrom 730 until his deposition. He was a son ofGotfridand brother and co-ruler withLantfridfrom 709.
In 727, Theudebald expelledPirmin,the founder ofReichenau Abbey,out of a hatred forCharles Martel(ob odium Karoli), whose influence in Alamannia he detested. During a military campaign in 730, Lantfrid was killed and Theudebald became sole duke. In 732, Theudebald was chased out of Alemannia byCharles Martel,but upon Charles' death in 741 he returned to claim his dukedom.
In 742, Theudebald rebelled against the nominal authority of theMerovingianmonarchy which was then being exercised by the twomayors of the palacePepin the ShortandCarloman;theBasques,Bavarii,andSaxonsall revolted simultaneously. That same year Theudebald invaded theDuchy of Alsace,then ruled byDuke Liutfrid.The Alsatian duke was probably killed alongside his son fighting for the mayors. In 744, Pepin invaded theSwabian Juraand chased Theudebald from his mountain redoubt. He was defeated in Alsace by Pepin's select band of warriors. In 745, Carloman had to march on the duke again, this time defeating him and executing many at theblood court of Cannstatt.Alamannia was subjected once and for all. Its subsequent history was much affected by the violence with which its ducal independence was snuffed out.
Sources
edit- Reuter, Timothy.Germany in the Early Middle Ages 800–1056.New York: Longman, 1991.
- Hummer, Hans J.Politics and Power in Early Medieval Europe: Alsace and the Frankish Realm 600 – 1000.Cambridge University Press: 2005.
- Bachrach, Bernard S.Merovingian Military Organization, 481–751.Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1971.
- Alemanni.