Desiderius vs Nare Maghann Konate

Desiderius initially allied with Pope Stephen II, supporting the Papacy against the Lombard dukes of Spoleto and Benevento. This alliance helped secure his position as king, but later conflicts with the Papacy led to his downfall.

Desiderius invaded the Papal States, capturing several cities and threatening Rome. This aggression prompted Pope Adrian I to appeal to Charlemagne for aid, leading to the Frankish invasion of Italy and Desiderius's eventual defeat.

Charlemagne besieged Desiderius in Pavia, the Lombard capital. After a nine-month siege, Desiderius surrendered, ending Lombard independence. He was captured and exiled to a Frankish monastery, marking the end of the Lombard Kingdom.

After his surrender, Desiderius was exiled to the Abbey of Corbie in Francia. He spent the remainder of his life there as a monk, dying in obscurity. His exile symbolized the complete subjugation of the Lombards by the Franks.

Nare Maghann Konate became the king (faama) of the Mandinka people in the region of Kangaba. His rule laid the foundation for the future Mali Empire, though his kingdom faced threats from the Sosso Empire under Soumaoro Kante.

Konate fathered Sundiata Keita, who would later become the founder of the Mali Empire. According to oral tradition, a prophecy foretold Sundiata's greatness, and Konate ensured his son's survival despite physical disabilities.

Konate's kingdom was conquered by Soumaoro Kante, the king of the Sosso Empire. Konate was killed in battle, and his family, including Sundiata, was forced into exile. This event set the stage for Sundiata's later rise.