Theodbert of Bavaria had first been associated…

Theodbert of Bavaria had first been associated with his father, the Agolfing Theodo, as duke in 702, ruling from Salzburg.

In 711, his younger brother Theobald was co-ruling as well and his father was making plans for a fourfold division of the duchy on his death.

The division is given sometime before 715, but whether territorial or coregent is not known.

If the former, the dioceses set up by Theodo probably correspond to the duchies of his sons.

In this scenario, Theodbert probably has his seat at Salzburg, as since 702, when his father, in transferring the government to him, had had him swear to always defend Rupert of Salzburg.

Ansprand, the Lombard duke of Asti and regent during the minority of the briefly reigning Liutpert, son of Cunicpert.

During the subsequent war over the succession, the briefly-reigning usurper Raginpert had defeated Ansprand at Novara and driven him to exile among the Bavarians, fleeing to the court of Theudebert in 702.

Raginpert’s son and successor Aripert II had blinded Ansprand’s elder son Sigipert and had cut off the noses and ears of his rival’s wife wife Theodarada and daughter Auron).

Liutprand, Ansprand’s younger son, had been spared only because his youth made him appear harmless.

He had been released from Aripert II's custody and allowed to join his father (Paul the Deacon, VI.xxii).

Theodo’s hospitality has been cemented with a marriage connection: Liutprand has married the Agilolfing Guntrud.

The core of Theodo's policy is resistance to the Merovingian mayors of the palaces in their encroachments north of the Alps, concerns that do not much occupy Liutprand, and maintaining strategic control of the eastern Alpine passes in South Tyrol, which does.

Theodbert now provides military help to Ansprand and Liutprand in their reconquest of Italy.