Editing Constantine V (section)

=== Events in Italy ===
With Constantine militarily occupied elsewhere, and the continuance of imperial influence in the West being given a low priority, the [[Lombards|Lombard]] king [[Aistulf]] captured [[Exarchate of Ravenna|Ravenna]] in 755, ending over two centuries of Byzantine rule in central Italy.<ref>Moffat, p. 55</ref><ref>Ostrogorsky, pp. 169–170</ref> The lack of interest Constantine showed in Italian affairs had profound and lasting consequences. [[Pope Stephen II]], seeking protection from the aggression of the Lombards, appealed in person to the [[Franks|Frankish]] king [[Pepin the Short]]. Pepin cowed Aistulf and restored Stephen to Rome at the head of an army. This began the Frankish involvement in Italy that eventually established Pepin's son [[Charlemagne]] as [[Holy Roman Emperor]], and also instigated papal temporal rule in Italy with the creation of the [[Papal States]].<ref>Jenkins, p. 71</ref>

Constantine sent a number of unsuccessful embassies to the Lombards, Franks and the papacy to demand the restoration of Ravenna, but never attempted a military reconquest or intervention.<ref>Treadgold (1997), p. 360</ref>