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Ratchis was the Duke of Friuli (739-744) and King of the Lombards (744-749). He ruled in peace until he besieged, for reasons unknown, Perugia. Pope Zachary convinced him to lift the siege and he abdicated and entered, with his family, the abbey of Montecassino. After the death of Aistulf in 756, he tried once again to reign over the Lombards, but he was defeated by Desiderius and retired to a cloister.
The picture shows the front of the altar with the depiction of Christ in Majesty. This relief is a typical example of the Lombard decoration style.
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