The Kingdom had its origins in the Wambid Kingdom of Italy, a division of the Western Roman Empire which came under the hereditary rule of the Florentian branch of the Wambid Dynasty. In those days it was common for younger sons to enter the priesthood so as not to be a rival to their brothers. Some rose quite high in the church hierarchy, and in 733 Bishop Agila of Florence, the seventh son of King Reccared, was elected by the College of Cardinals and took the name of Pope Stephen II.