Battle of Coronate

Lombard Tremissis: DN CVNI-INCPE RX / SCS MI-HAHIL
King Cunincpert of the Lombards
and
Saint Michael the Archangel who appeared before the battle

Date	689
Location	Cornate d'Adda, Lombardy
Result	Decisive victory for King Cunincpert

Belligerents

Lombard Neustria
Loyal to King Cunincpert

Lombard Austria
Loyal to Duke Alahis

Commanders and leaders

King Cunincpert

Duke Alahis of Trent †

Casualties and losses

Heavy

Heavy (poss. entire army)

The Battle of Coronate took place in 689, after King Cunicpert returned from exile and ousted Alahis, Usurper King and Duke of Trent, from the capital Pavia.

Duke Alahis, fled towards the east, into Austria. There he assembled an army to march against the king. Within the same year, Alahis crossed the River Adda, the border between Neustria and Austria, and faced Cunincpert in the plain of Coronate.

Wishing to spare the Lombard blood of so many, Cunincpert offered Alahis, to engage him in single combat. But Alahis refused and both camps prepared for battle. Fearing for Cunincpert's life, a deacon named Seno begged the king to lend him his armor, so that he, the deacon, appeared to be the king and distract all troubles from Cunincpert. Finally, Cunincpert agreed to that plan and battle was joined.

Once Alahis spotted the supposed king, he charged and killed him. When Alahis was about to take off the helmet, and present to his troops the dead king, he realised that he had only slain a cleric. In fury, Alahis swore a horrible oath, as Paul the Deacon recorded:

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Wikipedia