 Only a short time after Liutprand's death in 744, Zachary was successful in further postponing the catastrophe.In 751 the Exarchate of Ravenna fell to the Lombards under King Aistulf.Rome, under Pope Stephen II, attempted diplomatic negotiations with Aistulf, and upon the failure of those negotiations, entreated King Pepin the Short of the Franks to intervene on its behalf.