Zotton de Bénévent

Zotton is a military chief lombard second half of the 6th century, a “duke” (of Latin “dux”) founder of the duchy lombard of Bénévent ( cf duchy lombard of Bénévent ) in 571.

It was one of the companions of Alboin. While this founder of the monarchy of Lombards in Italy strengthened his empire in the upper part of this region, Zotton, with most adventurous of its compatriots, penetrated beyond Rome.

With its troops, it penetrates in Campanie in August 570, faces the Byzantine that it pushes back, and fixes its camping at Bénévent, city which consequently becomes the capital of this new duchy lombard of which he is the 1st duke.

It conquered Bénévent, and extended its capacity in the provinces which formed then the Royaume of Naples. One assigns the year 571 for the beginning of this forwarding. It in vain tries to take the town of Naples and must raise the seat of the city (581).

One gives to Zotton a twenty years reign, during which it was always in war with the Greek S. behaving as a duke quasi-independent compared to the king of Lombards Cleph (which sits in the north of the Italian peninsula ), then compared to the king Authari, it must finally subject to him in 589.

But its history, at the time same of its forwarding, is wrapped of much darkness. He died in 591. Agilulphe, king of Lombards, gave him for successor Arigise Ier.

Its nephew Arigis succeeds to him.

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