The Widonids, also called Guidonids,[a] or Lambertiner, after their leading names, were an Italian family of Frankish origin prominent in the ninth century.
They were an aggressive dynasty, expanding their base of power into the Papal States, ever loyal to the Empire and never the Papacy.
[1] The first member of the family to attain prominence was Lambert's son Guy I, who was made duke of Spoleto by the Emperor Lothair I in 842.
He was active in Lotharingia and Italy, even marrying a local Lombard woman, Itta (or Itana), the daughter of Sico of Benevento.
One member, Fulk the Venerable, was even archbishop of Rheims, assisting Guy III in making a claim on the French crown.