According to Ludovico Antonio Muratori, although the precise year and place of birth are not known, he was certainly originally from Bavaria and arrived in Italy following Charlemagne.
He was nicknamed the Bavarian due to his origins and was the representative of imperial power at the request of Charlemagne.
Boniface was then appointed as governor of Italy by Charlemagne after the death of King Pepin.
He was the count and duke of Lucca and sometimes is considered the first margrave of Tuscany because of the various counties he amassed: Pisa, Pistoia, Volterra, and Luni.
He left a son, Boniface, who became margrave of Tuscany and another named Berard, who assisted his brother in the defence of Corsica.