ASTOLPHUS, or Astalphus, called by the
Germans Aistulf, king of the Lombards in northern
Italy, succeeded his brother Rachis in 749, and
died in 756. After having seized the
exarchate of Ravenna, he threatened Rome. Pope
Stephen II. fled to France and demanded aid
from King Pepin, who crossed the Alps in 754
with an army, defeated Astolphus, and
besieged Pavia. The Lombard obtained peace
on condition of surrendering Ravenna and all
his other conquests; but on Pepin's withdrawal
he burst forth again, laid siege to Rome, and
ravaged all the surrounding country. The
pope again supplicated Pepin, who crossed the
Alps and shut Astolphus up in Pavia. Astolphus
was preparing for a new war, but fell
from his horse while hunting, and died three
days afterward without leaving male heirs.