Ratchis

Ratchis became king of the Lombards after the death of his father Liutprand. His reign was marked by attempts to maintain peace with the Papacy and Byzantines, but internal pressures led to military campaigns.

Ratchis besieged Perugia, a Byzantine stronghold in central Italy, as part of his campaign to expand Lombard territory. The siege was lifted after Pope Zachary intervened, leading to a truce and Ratchis's subsequent abdication.

Ratchis abdicated the Lombard throne and entered the monastery of Monte Cassino, becoming a Benedictine monk. This unexpected decision ended his reign and allowed his brother Aistulf to succeed him, shifting Lombard policy toward expansion.