Pentapolis, Duchy of the
Substate | Defunct
554 CE to 752 CE
In the Byzantine Empire, the Duchy of the Pentapolis is a duchy (Latin: ducatus), a territory ruled by a duke (dux) appointed by and under the authority of the Praetorian Prefect of Italy (554–584) and then the Exarch of Ravenna (584–751).
The Pentapolis (from the Greek term for "five cities") consists of the cities of Ancona, Fano, Pesaro, Rimini and Sinigaglia.
It lies along the Adriatic coast between the rivers Marecchia and Misco immediately south of the core territory of the exarchate ruled directly by the exarch (the Ravennate), east of the Duchy of Perugia, another Byzantine territory, and north of the Duchy of Spoleto, which is part of the Lombard Kingdom of Italy (founded in 568).
The duchy probably extends inland as far as the Apennine Mountains, perhaps beyond, and its southernmost town is Humana (Numera) on the northern bank of the Misco.
The capital of the Pentapolis is Rimini and the duke is both the civil and military authority in the duchy.
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Pope Gregory II, upon receiving the order of Roman Emperor Leo III that all holy images be destroyed, denounces the decree.
Liutprand had not attacked the Exarchate of Ravenna or the Papacy in his early reign as King of the Lombards, but in 726, the Emperor Leo III makes his first of many edicts outlawing images or icons (see the iconoclastic controversy).
The pope, Gregory II, orders the people to resist and the Roman duke of Naples, Exhiliratus, is killed by a mob while trying to carry out the imperial command to destroy all the icons.
Venice emerges as an independent city-state in the first half of the eighth century.
Venetian authority becomes concentrated in the city-state’s first doge, whose title derives from the Latin “dux” ("leader").
Orso Ipato, the third traditional Doge of Venice, is the first historically known.
Elected leader of Venice around 726, will eventually be appointed Roman consul by Emperor Leo III.
According to John Julius Norwich (A History of Venice. Alfred A. Knopf: New York, 1982), Paolo Lucio Anafesto, the reputed first doge of Venice, was actually Exarch Paul.
Moreover, Paul's magister militum had the same first name as Paoluccio's reputed successor, Marcellus Tegallianus, casting doubt on the authenticity of that doge as well.
As popular revolts against iconoclasm break out in the late 720s in Venice, ...
…Naples, …
…Rome, and elsewhere, …
…the Lombards, under their king Liutprand (reigned 712–744), are able to extend their influence despite attempts by Pope Gregory II, who is friendly with Liutprand, to restrain Lombard expansion in Italy.
Liutprand, choosing this time of division to strike the imperial possessions in Emilia, crosses the Po in 727 and takes Bologna, …
…Osimo, …
…Rimini and …
…Ancona, …