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LUITPRAND, or LIUTPRAND, is one of the greatest Ornaments of Italy. Trithemius * 1.1 assures us that he was an Italian, and descended from a Family of Pavia: Others suppose that his Family was Spanish. However it be, his Father was sent by Hugh King of Italy to the Emperor at Constantinople; and being return'd from that Embassy, he embrac'd the Monastick Life, leaving Luitprand very young. He was brought to Pavia, and made Deacon of that Church. His Rela∣tions
presented him to Berenger II. to be his Secretary. He serv'd him a long time, and was sent Ambassador by that Prince about the Year 948. to Constantine Porphyrogenetta Emperor of the East. Some say that soon after his return he was Bishop of Cremona; but 'tis more likely that he was not ad∣vanc'd to that Dignity till Otho I. had render'd himself Master of Italy: for he soon fell into disgrace with Berenger, who persecuted him and all his Family; so that he was forc'd to fly into Germany, where he compos'd his History, on the top of which he only assumes the Title of Deacon. He came into Italy with Otho, and assisted at the Council held at Rome in the Year 963. against John XII. in the quality of Bishop of Cremona, where he was the Emperor's Interpreter. In the Year 968 he was sent Ambassador by that Prince to Phocas Emperor of the East, and has writ himself the Relation of that Embassy, which contains very excellent Remarks on the Manners of the Grecian Emperors of that time. His History is dedicated to Raimond Bishop of Elvira in Spain. It is divided into six Books, and begins with the Reigns of Leo Emperor of the East, and of Arnulphus Emperor of the West, and ends at Luitprand's Embassy from Berenger to Constantine. But the last Book is imperfect; and instead of continuing the History, a Fragment is added, containing the History of the Expulsi∣on of Berenger, of the Condemnation of Pope John XII. and of all that happen'd at Rome till Pope Benedict was outed of his Popedom. The Fragment seems to me to be Luitprand's, if we may judge by the style, and certainly it belongs to an Author of that time. The third Book is intituled, The Counterpoison, that is, The Revenge; because therein he undertakes to revenge himself of the base usage he had receiv'd from Berenger. This History, and the Relation of his Embassy to the Empe∣ror Phocas, are the only genuine Pieces of Luitprand. For the Book of the Lives of the Popes from S. Peter down to Formosus, is not writ in Luitprand's style, nor is it mention'd in Sigibert or Trithe∣mius. Some believe that it belongs to a more ancient Author, but they are mistaken; for it ends with a passage copied out of the History of Luitprand, which is a farther evidence that this Work is none of his: But what time soever it was of, 'tis nothing else but a vile Copier of Anastasius the Li∣brarian. As for the Chronicon which goes under the name of Luitprand, 'tis apparently a spu∣rious Piece, which ought to be reckon'd among the Romances made in the form of ancient Chronicons by the Spaniards.
Luitprand's style is harsh and rough, but strong and vehement. He wrote his History in a pa∣thetical manner, but such as is not pleasant, without observing the Regular Order and Series of Times. He therein speaks particularly of the Affairs of Italy, and of that which concern'd the Em∣pire of the West, and therein likewise inserts something of the Empire of the East, and of the Hi∣story of the Popes.
His History was printed at Basil in the Year 1532. The Relation of his Embassy at Ingolstat in the Year 1600. The Book of Lives of the Popes, which is foisted on him at Mayence in the Year 1602. And all his works together, with the spurious Chronicon, were publish'd by Jerom of Higuera the Jesuit, and printed in Folio at Antwerp in the Year 1640.
LUIT∣PRAND.