
What happened to the Lombard kingdom?
The King of Franks, who was powerful and already the stuff of legend, descended upon Italy and destroyed the Lombards swiftly and decisively. Just like that, in roughly a year, the Lombard Kingdom and its people were no more. They were conquered and integrated into the Frankish Kingdom.
What was the war of the Lombards in 1228?
The War of the Lombards (1228–1243) was a civil war in the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Cyprus between the "Lombards" (also called the imperialists), the representatives of the Emperor Frederick II, largely from Lombardy, and the Eastern aristocracy led first by the Ibelins and then by the Montforts.
Why was Liutprand the last Lombard king to rule?
Liutprand was the last of the Lombard kings to rule over a unified kingdom; later kings would face substantial internal opposition, which eventually contributed to the kingdom's downfall.
What are the different reigns of the Lombards?
Reign of Alboin, King of the Lombards . Alboin leads the Lombards from Pannonia to Italy and conquers the region. King Alboin is assassinated. Individual Lombard dukes fight for control of the kingdom. Reign of King Authari. Reign of King Agilulf who strengthens the Lombard kingdom. Reign of Queen Theolinda of the Lombards . Reign of King Adaloald.

How did the Lombards fall?
For two decades the Lombards waged intermittent wars with the Gepidae, who were finally destroyed (c. 567) by Audoin's successor, Alboin. About this time the Lombards decided to migrate into Italy, which had been left almost defenseless after the Byzantine Empire's armies had overthrown the Ostrogothic kingdom there.
Who did the Lombards fight?
The Byzantine–Lombard wars were a protracted series of conflicts which occurred from AD 568 to 750 between the Byzantine Empire and a Germanic tribe known as the Lombards. The wars began primarily because of the imperialistic inclinations of the Lombard king Alboin, as he sought to take possession of Northern Italy.
Who was the leader of the Lombards?
In the spring of 568 the Lombards, led by King Alboin, moved from Pannonia and quickly overwhelmed the small Byzantine army left by Narses to guard Italy. The Lombard arrival broke the political unity of the Italian Peninsula for the first time since the Roman conquest (between the 3rd and 2nd century BC).
When did Charlemagne fight Lombards?
774Charles I, King of the Franks, who was known as Charlemagne [Charles the Great], reacted swiftly, decisively defeating the Lombards at their capital of Pavia in the summer of 774. The Franks divided the Lombard territory with the Pope at Rome, creating the Papal States.
Who defeated the Lombards in Northern Italy?
But when he too threatened Rome in 772–773, the Frankish king, Charlemagne, invaded and this time conquered the Lombard kingdom outright (773–774).
What are the Lombards known for?
The Lombards (also known as Langobards literally meaning “people with long beards”) were a tribe of Germanic warriors who crossed the Alps and began invading Northern Italy starting from 568 A.D. Some regions remained under the control of the East Roman Empire, others started a brand new phase.
What language did the Lombards speak?
Lombardic or Langobardic is an extinct West Germanic language that was spoken by the Lombards (Langobardi), the Germanic people who settled in Italy in the sixth century.
What does Lombards mean?
Definition of Lombard 1a : a member of a Germanic people that invaded Italy in a.d. 568 and established a kingdom in the Po valley. b : a native or inhabitant of Lombardy. 2 [from the prominence of Lombards as moneylenders] : banker, moneylender.
How many Lombards settled in Italy?
The simple answer (which isn't even that simple) is, estimations of the Lombard migration into Italy around 568 CE max out at around 200,000 presuming a super low Italian population of 2 million, thus making the maximum percentage about 10%.
Did Charles Martel defeat the Lombards?
The siege or battle of Pavia was fought in 773–774 in northern Italy, near Ticinum (modern Pavia), and resulted in the victory of the Franks under Charlemagne against the Lombards under King Desiderius....Siege of Pavia (773–774)Siege of PaviaCharlemagne Bernard, son of Charles MartelDesideriusStrength10,000–40,0002,500–10,0005 more rows
Who did Charlemagne defeat?
the SaxonsCharlemagne waged a bloody, three decades-long series of battles against the Saxons, a Germanic tribe of pagans, and earned a reputation for ruthlessness.
Who was the first king in Europe?
Charlemagne has been called the "Father of Europe" (Pater Europae), as he united most of Western Europe for the first time since the classical era of the Roman Empire, as well as uniting parts of Europe that had never been under Frankish or Roman rule....CharlemagneReligionRoman CatholicismSignum manus25 more rows
Did the Lombards conquer Rome?
In the summer of 569, the Lombards conquered the main Roman centre of northern Italy, Milan. The area was then recovering from the terrible Gothic Wars, and the small Byzantine army left for its defence could do almost nothing.
Who did the Visigoths fight?
Contents. The Goths were a nomadic Germanic people who fought against Roman rule in the late 300s and early 400s A.D., helping to bring about the downfall of the Roman Empire, which had controlled much of Europe for centuries.
Who were Nordic Lombards?
Definition. The Lombards were a Germanic tribe that originated in Scandinavia and migrated to the region of Pannonia (roughly modern-day Hungary). Their migration is considered part of "The Wandering of the Nations" or "The Great Migration", which was a period roughly defined as lasting between 376-476 CE.
When did the Lombards sack Rome?
Sack of Rome, (6 May 1527). Victory over the French at Pavia in 1525 left the forces of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, dominant in Italy.
Who was the first person to mention the Lombards?
The first mention of the Lombards occurred between AD 9 and 16, by the Roman court historian Velleius Paterculus, who accompanied a Roman expedition as prefect of the cavalry. Paterculus says that under Tiberius the "power of the Langobardi was broken, a race surpassing even the Germans in savagery".
What did the Lombards call themselves?
According to their own traditions, the Lombards initially called themselves the Winnili. After a reported major victory against the Vandals in the 1st century, they changed their name to Lombards. The name Winnili is generally translated as 'the wolves', related to the Proto-Germanic root *wulfaz 'wolf'.
Why did the Lombards leave their homes?
In the second half of the 4th century, the Lombards left their homes, probably due to bad harvests, and embarked on their migration.
What tribes were in the Lombards?
The Lombards were joined by numerous Saxons, Heruls, Gepids, Bulgars, Thuringians, and Ostrogoths, and their invasion of Italy was almost unopposed.
How did the Lombards develop their kingship?
380 and thus to the beginning of the Great Migration. Kingship developed among the Germanic peoples when the unity of a single military command was found necessary . Schmidt believed that the Germanic tribes were divided into cantons and that the earliest government was a general assembly that selected canton chiefs and war leaders in times of conflict. All such figures were probably selected from a caste of nobility. As a result of the wars of their wanderings, royal power developed such that the king became the representative of the people, but the influence of the people on the government did not fully disappear. Paul the Deacon gives an account of the Lombard tribal structure during the migration:
What are the Lombards?
Lombard possessions in Italy: The Lombard Kingdom ( Neustria, Austria and Tuscia) and the Lombard Duchies of Spoleto and Benevento. The Lombards ( / ˈlɒmbərdz, - bɑːrdz, ˈlʌm -/) or Langobards ...
When were the Lombards first mentioned?
The first mention of the Lombards occurred between AD 9 and 16 , by the Roman court historian Velleius Paterculus, who accompanied a Roman expedition as prefect of the cavalry. Paterculus says that under Tiberius the "power of the Langobardi was broken, a race surpassing even the Germans in savagery".
What was the war between the Lombards and the Ibelins?
The War of the Lombards (1228–1243) was a civil war in the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Cyprus between the "Lombards" (also called the imperialists), the representatives of the Emperor Frederick II , largely from Lombardy, and the Eastern aristocracy led first by the Ibelins and then by the Montforts. The war was provoked by Frederick's attempt to control the regency for his young son, Conrad II of Jerusalem. Frederick and Conrad represented the Hohenstaufen dynasty .
Who won the first battle of the war?
The first major battle of the war took place at Casal Imbert in May 1232. Filangieri defeated the Ibelins. In June, however, he was so soundly defeated by an inferior force at the Battle of Agridi in Cyprus that his support on the island dwindled to zero within a year.
Who was the Venetian baili?
The Venetian baili Marsilio Zorzi, who arrived in Acre shortly before Alice's election as regent, wrote a report of conditions and recent events in the Levant for his masters in Venice. It is preserved in a manuscript of 1246 and in the fourteenth-century Liber Albus, but is a less precise, though more contemporaneous, account than Philip's.
Who supported Filangieri?
Though the ecclesiastical hierarchy and the Knights Templar supported the nobility, the Teutonic Knights and Knights Hospitaller supported Filangieri. In general his rights as regent were recognised but his practical power was denied on the basis of the Assizes and the High Court. His headquarters were in Tyre and he had the allegiance of Bohemond V, who was the prince of Antioch and count of Tripoli. He also held the Holy City of Jerusalem itself, which had been negotiated away from the Saracens by Frederick. So long as the Ibelins controlled the opposition, Filangieri could count on the support of their enemies as well. The Italian cities were also divided between the two factions: Pisa supported Filangieri and Genoa the Ibelins. The Ibelins controlled Beirut, Arsuf, and Caesarea as well as the old capital of Acre. In 1231 the citizens of Acre formed a commune with their headquarters at the church of Saint Andrew's in order to unify their opposition to Filangieri. In 1232 John of Ibelin was elected its mayor.
Who led the Lombards?
In the spring of 568 the Lombards, led by King Alboin, moved from Pannonia and quickly overwhelmed the small Byzantine army left by Narses to guard Italy. The Lombard arrival broke the political unity of the Italian Peninsula for the first time since the Roman conquest (between the 3rd and 2nd century BC).
Who was the king of the Lombards after the death of Agilulf?
After the death of Agilulf in 616, the throne passed to his son Adaloald , a minor. The regency (which continued even after the king passed into majority) was exercised by the Queen Mother, Theodelinda, who gave command of the military to Duke Sundarit. Theodelinda continued Agilulf's pro-Catholic policy and maintained the peace with the Byzantines, which generated ever-stronger opposition from the warriors and Arians among the Lombards. A civil war broke out in 624, led by Arioald , Duke of Turin and Adaloald 's brother-in-law (through his marriage to Adaloald 's sister Gundeperga ). Adaloald was deposed in 625 and Arioald became king.
How many dukes were there in 572?
See also: Rule of the Dukes. Later in 572, the thirty-five dukes assembled in Pavia to hail king Cleph. The new monarch extended the boundaries of the kingdom, completing the conquest of Tuscia and laying siege to Ravenna.
Which duchy had greater autonomy?
Justified by its exceptional military needs, the Duchy of Friuli thus had greater autonomy compared to other duchies of Langobardia Maior until the reign of Liutprand (712–744). Over time, other Lombard duchies were created in major cities of the kingdom.
Which two duchies were part of Langobardia Minor?
For most of the kingdom's history, the Byzantine-ruled Exarchate of Ravenna and Duchy of Rome separated the northern Lombard duchies, collectively known as Langobardia Maior, from the two large southern duchies of Spoleto and Benevento, which constituted Langobardia Minor.
Who was the Bavarian dynasty?
Bavarian dynasty. See also: Bavarian Dynasty. A coin of Cunipert (688-700), king of the Lombards, minted in Milan. After the short reign of the son of Rothari and his son Rodoald (652-653), the dukes elected Aripert I, Duke of Asti and grandson of Theodolinda, as the new king.
Who invaded Istria?
Istria was attacked and invaded by the Lombards on several occasions, although the degree of their occupation of the peninsula and its subordination to the Lombard kings is unclear. Even when Istria was part of the Exarchate of Ravenna, a Lombard, Gulfaris, rose to power in the region, styling himself as dux Istriae.
Who was the head of the Lombards in 751?
But times had changed for the Lombards. In the 740s the popes had become close to the rising Carolingian dynasty in Francia, and in 751 its head, Pippin III, was recognized as king of the Franks by Pope Zacharias (741–752).
Who wrote the history of the Lombards?
For the political history of the Lombards, scholars rely primarily on one source, Paul the Deacon ’s History of the Lombards, written in the 790s. For the reigns of Agilulf and his predecessors, Paul’s information is in part contemporary, for it is based on a lost historical work by Secundus of Non, one of the Romans at Agilulf’s court. Secundus’s work, however, seems to have ended after 616, and Paul’s knowledge—and thus posterity’s—becomes much more fragmentary. Paul says little, for example, about Rothari (636–652) except that he was militarily successful (it was he who conquered Liguria) and, most importantly, that he was the first king to set out Lombard custom, in his Edict of 643, a substantial law code that survives independently. It is evident, however, that the basic institutions of the kingdom were by then fairly stable. Between 616 and 712 the Bavarian dynasty—the family of Agilulf’s wife, Theodelinda —dominated the succession; kings who were not members of this family, such as Rothari and Grimoald of Benevento (662–671), married into it. Grimoald was the only southern duke to claim the throne of Pavia; like Rothari, he fought the Byzantines and made laws. Male-line Bavarian kings such as Perctarit (661–662, 672–688) and his son Cunipert (680–700) preferred peace and seem to have developed the ceremonial role of the royal court. This contrast may have represented a real political difference, but, if so, it was only a difference of emphasis. Every king accepted the cornerstones of the Lombard political tradition: Agilulf’s Romanized court and Rothari’s Lombard law.
What were the cornerstones of the Lombard political tradition?
Every king accepted the cornerstones of the Lombard political tradition: Agilulf’s Romanized court and Rothari’s Lombard law. Coups dominated the Lombard political succession, like that of the Visigoths in Spain, and between 700 and 712 these became particularly savage, resulting in the end of the Bavarian dynasty.
When was the last Frankish invasion?
The last Frankish invasion, in 590, probably resulted in some sort of Frankish supremacy; the Lombards payed tribute, at least for a time, and sent detachments to fight in the Frankish army as late as the 620s. King Agilulf reorganized the kingdom and suppressed several dukes with pretensions to autonomy. He also concluded a treaty ...
Which group of people was less committed to Arianism than the Goths or Vandals?
Germanic peoples had often been Arians in the 5th and 6th centuries (the Ostrogoths were, for example), but the Lombards seem to have been less committed to Arianism than were the Goths or the Vandals, and they abandoned it without documented struggle in the mid-7th century.
Who was the first king to set out Lombard custom?
Paul says little, for example, about Rothari (636–652) except that he was militarily successful (it was he who conquered Liguria) and, most importantly, that he was the first king to set out Lombard custom, in his Edict of 643, a substantial law code that survives independently.
Which Bavarian king preferred peace?
Male-line Bavarian kings such as Perctarit (661–662, 672–688) and his son Cunipert (680–700) preferred peace and seem to have developed the ceremonial role of the royal court. This contrast may have represented a real political difference, but, if so, it was only a difference of emphasis.
Who was the Lombard king who defeated the Gepids?
It was the Lombard ruler Audoin (reigned 546-560 AD) who began these wars against the Gepids, and his son and successor, Alboin (reigned c. 560-572 AD) who finally defeated them for good. But even after he made the Gepids his subjects, King Alboin was not keen on settling in their lands. The untrusty and powerful Avars were at his doorstep there, and he feared for the prosperity and safety of his people. Thus, he set his sights on a new land, which lay unprotected and ready for settlement: Italy.
What happened to the Lombards after they conquered Italy?
The Lombards simply changed place with the defeated Ostrogoths, continuing the tumultuous fate of the Italian Peninsula after the collapse of Rome.
What is the Earliest Mention of the Lombards?
The Lombard name might sound familiar as many know of the Lombardy region of Italy and its capital, Milan. This is just one of the many geographical and cultural remnants that the Germanic Lombards left on the Italian Peninsula .
What is the origin of the name "Lombard"?
The name “Lombard” is a derivation from two Proto-Germanic words: langaz (long) and bardaz (beard). It is reportedly a name that these men gave to themselves, which was “longbeards.” A more probable version is that the name was given to them by their enemies and neighbors, chiefly due to their distinctive long beards. Ancient sources mention that the Lombards called themselves the Winnili at first, which could possibly be a Proto-Germanic variant of the word “wolves.” However, after their migrations and conflicts with other tribes, they quickly became known as the Longobards (from which Lombard stems), and they remained known as such.
How long did it take the Lombards to reach Italy?
The Lombards migrated south across Europe from Scandinavia and reached their final destination, Italy in 200 years! In that time, they migrated more than 900 miles (1,500 kilometers) coming into contact with various tribes and peoples, as they fought and pillaged their way south. From subjects to kings, these fierce Germanic tribesmen fought for their own place in the world. And they certainly made the most of it.
What happened to the Italian peninsula during Justinian's reign?
At the time, the Italian Peninsula lay ravaged and depopulated, which was a consequence of the Gothic Wars that raged across Italy during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. Only the small and weary contingents of the Byzantine army remained in Italy, and they were powerless to resist the oncoming horde of Lombards and their allies.
How long did King Aripert II rule?
But that period would be briefly interrupted around 700 AD, when King Aripert II came to the throne. He reigned for twelve years, in a time filled with intrigue, strife, war, and cruelty. But when he was finally replaced on the throne by Liutprand, stability once more returned to the Lombard lands.
What did the Lombards find after defeating the Vandals?
After defeating the Vandals, the Lombards found little food or resources in the region and, according to Paul, "suffered great privation from hunger" and "their minds were filled with dismay" (10).
When were the Lombards first mentioned?
The Lombards are first mentioned in Roman sources in 9 CE by the historian Velleius Paterculus, again in 20 CE by Strabo, and in 98 CE by Tacitus. The most comprehensive early account of their origins is The History of the Lombards written by Paul the Deacon in the late 8th century CE based on an earlier work known as The Origin of the Lombards but, as historian Roger Collins points out, "This is a work that is full of problems for the historian" because "it depends for its information on a variety of sources, not all identifiable and of uneven worth" (198).
What tribe was the Lombards originally from?
Early History & Alliance with Rome. Paul the Deacon relates how the Lombards were originally a Scandinavian tribe known as the Winnili. The leaders of one sub-group of this tribe were Ibor and Aio who, with their mother Gambara, left the tribe and migrated south, finally settling in the region Paul refers to as Scoringa (near the Elbe River).
When did Liutprand rule?
Following his death, the Lombard Kingdom split between two rulers, one at Milan and the other at Pavia, and the Lombards battled each other as well as encroaching Slavic tribes on the borders. This situation was resolved when Liutprand came to the throne in 712 CE and reigned until 744 CE.
What were the Lombards?
The Lombards were primarily Arian Christians, while much of the populace was Trinitarian (Roman Catholic) and yet, as Collins writes, the division between Arians and Catholics, which caused so many problems in other kingdoms and at other times, does not "seem very contentious.
Who did Alboin marry?
Alboin then married Rosamund, the daughter of king Cunimund, in order to tie the Lombards and Gepids in alliance against the Avars but, by this time, the Avars had grown too powerful and the Gepids too weak; Alboin felt it more prudent to leave the region.
Where did the Lombards come from?
The Lombards were a Germanic tribe that originated in Scandinavia and migrated to the region of Pannonia (roughly modern-day Hungary). Their migration is considered part of "The Wandering of the Nations" or "The Great Migration", which was a period roughly defined as lasting between 376-476 CE (though it is admitted that these migrations may have begun earlier and lasted longer). The historian J. F. C. Fuller writes that "The Wandering of the Nations" officially begins "with the crossing of the Danube by the Goths in 376", but there is evidence of such migrations prior to this date (277).
Who was the leader of the Lombards?
Under the leadership of their king, Alboin, the Lombards invaded northern Italy and established a kingdom with its capital at Pavia. In subsequent decades they expanded their control over the peninsula.
Who was the last king of the Lombards?
The final destruction of the Lombard kingdom was the work of Pepin’s son and successor, Charlemagne, who in 774 made a prisoner of the last Lombard king, Desiderius, and had himself crowned with the iron crown of the Lombards.
Where were the Lombard duchies located?
Outside the northern Lombard kingdom, semi-independent Lombard duchies were also established in the south, at Spoleto and Benevento. The Lombards, unlike the Ostrogoths, maintained the dual system of law for Romans and barbarians.
Who took the crown of the Ostrogothic Kingdom?
In 534 she was imprisoned and strangled by her husband, Theodahad, who took the Ostrogothic crown for himself. The Ostrogothic kingdom, however, was in the path of the Roman emperor Justinian I, who aimed at destroying the Arian barbarian powers of the Mediterranean.
Who succeeded Theodoric?
His grandson Athalaric succeeded Theodoric, but the real power lay with his mother, Theodoric’s daughter Amalasuntha. Traditional Ostrogoths believed that Amalasuntha leaned too far to the Roman side, and she lacked Theodoric’s fame as a war leader.
Who were the Ostrogoths?
The Ostrogoths and Lombards were Germanic barbarians who successively became rulers of post-Roman Italy. The Ostrogoths were the eastern branch of the Gothic peoples, the western being the Visigoths. They first settled in the area of the Ukraine. An early Ostrogothic king, Ermanric, was defeated and conquered by the Huns around 375 c.e.
Who did Zeno hope would overcome?
Zeno hoped that Theodoric would overcome Odovacar, a former barbarian mercenary leader who had overthrown the last Roman emperor in the West, Romulus Augustulus, in 476. Theodoric quickly overcame Odovacar and treacherously murdered him.
Who were the Langobards?
The Lombards (also known as Langobards literally meaning “people with long beards”) were a tribe of Germanic warriors who crossed the Alps and began invading Northern Italy starting from 568 A.D. Some regions remained under the control of the East Roman Empire, others started a brand new phase. Italy had changed forever: it turned into a land to conquer for foreign Countries: the Lombards established a kingdom, later called Regnum Italicum and ruled large areas of the Italian Peninsula until Charlemagne defeated them in 774.
When is the Lombards exhibit in Naples?
The Archaeological Museum of Naples is housing from 21 st December until 25 th March 2018 the exhibit The Lombards: people who changed history that illustrate Langobards’ past and the challenges they faced that caused the political and historical fragmentation of the Italian Peninsula.
Where did the Charlemagne family move to?
Actually they moved to Southern Italy for centuries after they lost control of Northern part of Italian Peninsula with the arrival of Charlemagne in Pavia. The capital of their new estate was Benevento, then the city of Capua and Salerno became autonomous centres of power.

Overview
The Lombards or Langobards (Latin: Langobardi) were a Germanic people who ruled most of the Italian Peninsula from 568 to 774, with origins near the Elbe in northern Germany and Scania in southern Sweden before the Migration Period.
The medieval Lombard historian Paul the Deacon wrote in the History of the Lombards (written between 787 and 796) that the Lombards descended from …
Name
According to their own traditions, the Lombards initially called themselves the Winnili. After a reported major victory against the Vandals in the first century, they changed their name to Lombards. The name Winnili is generally translated as 'the wolves', related to the Proto-Germanic root *wulfaz 'wolf'. The name Lombard was reportedly derived from the distinctively long beards of the Lombards. It is probably a compound of the Proto-Germanic elements *langaz (long) and *bard…
History
According to their own legends the Lombards originated in southern Scandinavia. including modern day Denmark. The Northern European origins of the Lombards is supported by genetic, anthropological, archaeological and earlier literary evidence.
A legendary account of Lombard origins, history, and practices is the Historia …
Genetics
A genetic study published in Nature Communications in September 2018 found strong genetic similarities between Lombards of Italy and earlier Lombards of Central Europe. The Lombards of Central Europe displayed no genetic similarities with earlier populations of this region, but were on the other hand strikingly similar genetically to Bronze Age Scandinavians. Lombard males were primarily carriers of subclades of haplogroup R1b and I2a2a1, both of which are common among …
Culture
The Lombardic language is extinct (unless Cimbrian and Mocheno represent surviving dialects). It declined beginning in the seventh century, but may have been in scattered use until as late as about the year 1000. Only fragments of the language have survived, the main evidence being individual words quoted in Latin texts. In the absence of Lombardic texts, it is not possible to draw any c…
Notes and sources
Ancient sources
• Cosmographer of Ravenna
• Historia Langobardorum Codicis Gothani in Codex Gothanus
• Historia Langobardorum
External links
Media related to Lombards at Wikimedia Commons
• Beck, Frederick George Meeson; Church, Richard William (1911). "Lombards" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.).