Berengar II of Italy
For other historical figures with similar names, see Berengar.The
Lombard Berengar of Ivrea (?-966), sometimes also referred to as
Berengar II of Italy, was
marquess of
Ivrea.
Through his mother he was a fifth generation descendant of
Charlemagne.
Following the uprising he led became the effective
King of Italy upon the withdrawal to
Provence of
Hugh of Arles, who left his young son
Lothar as titular king. At the death of Lothar a few years later, in 950, Berengar seized the opportunity and declared himself king, with his son as co-king. He tried to legitimize his rule by forcing
Adelaide, the respective daughter, daughter-in-law, and widow of the last three kings of Italy, into marriage with his son
Adalbert. Adelaide's requests for intervention resulted in
Otto I's invasion in 951, where Berengar was forced to pay homage to the Emperor (952). Otto, a widower, subsequently married Adelaide himself. Berengar was deposed by Otto, and Northern Italy came under direct control of the
Holy Roman Empire.
Berengar continued in his position as a vassal of the Empire. Later (from 960) Berengar and his son Adalbert attacked
Pope John XII, on whose appeal Otto marched into Rome and was crowned emperor (962). John's subsequent negotiations with Berengar caused Otto to depose the pope and capture and imprison Berengar in Germany (963).
His consort was Willa, the daughter of
Boso,
count of Arles and
Avignon and
margrave of Tuscany; she mistreated Adelaide when Berengar held her captive for several months in 951. The chronicler
Liutprand of Cremona, raised at his court at
Pavia, gives several particularly vivid accounts of Willa's character.
[Antapodosis ("Book of Retributions") III.1; IV.11-12; V.32.] She was held captive in a German nunnery.
*
Descendants of Charlemagne*
Descendants of Berengar and Willa 
