Lambert of Spoleto

Lambert of Spoleto (?–October 15, 898) was a Duke of Spoleto (as Lambert II, 894–898), King of Italy (892–898) and Emperor (894–898). He was the son of Guido of Spoleto and Aglitrude.

Lambert was crowned king and emperor alongside his father in April 892 at Pavia by a reluctant Pope Formosus. When his father died in 894, he became sole king and emperor, as well as succeeding his father to the Duchy of Spoleto. Still, though, he was left in the care of his mother, a staunch anti-Carolingian.

Lambert was preoccupied in thwarting the attempts of both Berengar of Friuli and Arnulf of Carinthia to take Italy for themeselves during his reign. In the autumn of 895, Arnulf undertook his second campaign into Italy at the request of Formosus, and proceeded to take Rome in February 896. Arnulf was there crowned King of Italy and emperor by Formosus, who declared Lambert deposed. That same year, however, Arnulf left Italy and Formosus died, leaving Lambert once again in power. The vengeful Lambert and Aglitrude persuaded Pope Stephen VII to put the corpse of Formosus on trial for various crimes in 897, then have the body stripped of its papal robes, mutiliated, and thrown into the River Tiber.

Lambert still had Berengar of Friuli to face. In 898, the latter marched on Pavia. The emperor, who had been hunting near Marengo, south of Milan, attacked and defeated his rival. On his return to Marengo however, he was killed, either by assassination or by falling from his horse. He was succeeded in Spoleto by Guido IV.