Pope Stephen II
After the death of Aistulf in 756, he tried once again to reign over the Lombards. He was able to gain control of the royal palace in Pavia with the support of several Lombard nobles of northern Italy. However, he was defeated by the Duke of Tuscany, Desiderius, supported, among others, by Pope Stephen II and the Frankish king Pepin the Short. In 757 Ratchis retired again to a monastery, either Montecassino or Cervaro.