Gisulf I ( la, Gisulfus I) was probably the first

duke of Friuli The dukes and margraves of Friuli were the rulers of the Duchy and March of Friuli in the Middle Ages. The dates given below, when contentious, are discussed in the articles of the respective dukes. Lombard dukes * 568–c.584 Grasulf I * 5 ...

(then ''Forum Julii''). He was a nephew of

Alboin Alboin (530s – 28 June 572) was king of the Lombards from about 560 until 572. During his reign the Lombards ended their migrations by settling in Italy, the northern part of which Alboin conquered between 569 and 572. He had a lasting eff ...

, first

king of the Lombards The Kings of the Lombards or ''reges Langobardorum'' (singular ''rex Langobardorum'') were the monarchs of the Lombard people from the early 6th century until the Lombardic identity became lost in the 9th and 10th centuries. After 568, the Lomba ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, who appointed him duke around 569 after the Lombard conquest of the region, though some scholars believe he appointed his brother Grasulf I, Gisulf's father. Before this, Gisulf had been Alboin's '' marpahis'' or "master of the horse", sometimes considered a shield-bearer. He was, according to

Paul the Deacon Paul the Deacon ( 720s 13 April in 796, 797, 798, or 799 AD), also known as ''Paulus Diaconus'', ''Warnefridus'', ''Barnefridus'', or ''Winfridus'', and sometimes suffixed ''Cassinensis'' (''i.e.'' "of Monte Cassino"), was a Benedictine monk, ...

, "a man suitable in every way." He asked Alboin for permission to choose which ''faras'' or clans he would lead or rule over in Friuli, and this request was granted. He thus chose which families would settle permanently in Friuli, and he "acquired the honour of a leader (''ducior'')."Paul, bk 2, ch I

. As well, Alboin granted him a great herd of Mare (horse), mares, perhaps in recognition of his former service. He reigned during the Rule of the Dukes from 575 to 585. He was succeeded by his son, Gisulf II.

Notes

Sources

''Historia Langobardorum''
Available at Northvegr. *

Andreas Bergomatis Andreas of Bergamo ( la, Andreas Bergomas) was an Italian historian of the late ninth century. He composed a continuation of the ''Historia Langobardorum'' of Paul the Deacon down to ca. 877. The short continuation, untitled in the manuscripts, is ...

''Chronicon'' at the Institut für Mittelalter Forschung.
Year of birth missing 590 deaths Dukes of Friuli 6th-century Lombard people Lombard warriors 6th-century rulers in Europe {{Italy-noble-stub