 From the beginning, then, the Duchy of Friuli had a military role which it retained throughout the whole period of the Lombard kingdom and meant that it always played an important role in Italian politics, such that several of its dukes achieved the rank of king.Grisulf, a capable ruler according to the "Historia Langobardorum" chronicles by Paul the Deacon, suppressed the Roman population in Friuli.He gained even greater influence during the Lombard "interregnum" upon the death of King Cleph in 574.