Rothari 1 | Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire |
| Sex | M |
| Floruit | E/M VII |
| Dates | 638 (taq) / 652 (ob.) |
| Variant Names | Rotharius |
| Ethnicity | Lombard |
| Locations | Lombardy (officeplace); Lombardy; Lombardy (residence) |
| Titles | King of the Lombards (office) |
| Textual Sources | Paulus Diaconus, Historia Gentis Langobardorum, ed. L. Bethmann and G. Waitz, MGH, Scr. Rer. Lang., pp. 12-187; also in MGH, Scr. Rer. Ger. 48, pp. 49-242 (history) |
Rothari 1 was king of the Lombards from 636 to 652; see PLRE III, p. 1096. He had the customary laws of the Lombards written down for the first time and published in 643: Historia Langobardorum Codicis Gothani (ed. G. Waitz, MGH, Scr. Rer. Lang.), p. 7, Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. IV 42, V 33, and see Edictum Rotharii (MGH, Leg. IV, pp. 1-90). He died in 652 after reigning for sixteen years and six months and was succeeded by his son Rodoald: Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. IV 47, Catalogus Regum Langobardorum (ed. G. Waitz, MGH, Scr. Rer. Lang.), pp. 491, 502, 504, 508, 509, Origo Gentis Langobardorum (ed. G. Waitz, MGH, Scr. Rer. Lang.), p. 7, Hist. Lang. Cod. Goth. 7. Described as a strong man and a just ruler, but an Arian: Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. IV 42.
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