The battle of Pavia was fought in 773–774 in what is now northern Italy, and resulted the victory of French under Charlemagne against the Lombards under King Didier, better known as Desiderius (meaning "desire" in Latin, and the same root as the current Italian name Desiderio).
After the victory, which involved a lengthy siege, Charlemagne had himself declared King of Italy, and from that time onwards he was to be called King of the Franks and Lombards.
This is unrelated to the better-known Battle of Pavia in 1525, sometimes called the first modern battle.
Gerberga and her children were delivered up and disappear from history; the siege of Pavia was undertaken; and at Easter 774 the king left the seat of war and visited Rome, where he was received with great respect.
Returning to the scene of hostilities, Charles witnessed the capitulation of Pavia in June 774, and the capture of Desiderius, who was sent into a monastery.
The chief heroes who fought Charlemagne'sbattles were Roland; Ganelon, afterwards the traitor; Turpin, the fighting archbishop of Reims; Duke Naimes of Bavaria, the wise counsellor who is always on the side of justice; Ogier the Dane, the hero of a whole series of romances; and Guillaume of Toulouse, the defender of Narbonne.
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