Gisulf 1 was grandson of the Lombard king Grimoald (Grimoald 3) and of Lupus 1, son of Romoald 1 and Theuderada 1, brother of Grimoald 4 and Arichis 1: Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. V 25, VI 2. He married Winiperga 1 and had a son, Romoald 2: Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. VI 2. Father of Romoald 2, grandfather of Gisulf 2: Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. VI 50.

He became dux of Beneventum after the death of his brother Grimoald 4 and ruled for seventeen years: Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. VI 2. "Beneventanorum ductor", he captured the Roman city of Sura, with Hirpinum and Arcis: Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. VI 27. He was the dux of Beneventum ("Gisulfus, dux gentis Langobardorum Beneventi") at a date when John VI (Ioannes 227) was bishop of Rome (AD 701-705); he attacked Campania with all his forces, and there he burnt and plundered and seized many captives; he made camp at a place called Horrea (possibly a place called "Fundus Horrea", five miles from Rome along the Via Latina, according to Duchesne, Lib. Pont. p. 384, n. 2); as no one was powerful enough to resist him, the pope sent priests with gifts to him and ransomed all his captives and also persuaded him to return home with his army: Lib. Pont. 87. 2, Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. VI 27.

When he died he was still dux of Beneventum; his son Romoald 1 then became ruler of Samnium ("defuncto itaque Gisulfo Beneventano duce, Samnitum populum Romuald eius filius regendum suscepit"): Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. VI 39. He was apparently still a child when he became ruler and his mother Theoderada 1 acted as regent for him: see Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. VI 2, note, referring to the Acta S. Sabini and to diplomata. The lengths of rule of his father and brother suggest that he became dux in 681 and therefore ruled until 698, but he was still dux in the pontificate of John VI (Ioannes 227) (AD 701-705). He was actually dux from 689 to 706; see Grumel, Chronologie, p. 419.

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