Lombards

Lombard possessions in Italy: The Lombard Kingdom (Neustria, Austria and Tuscia) and the Lombard Duchies of Spoleto and Benevento

The Lombards ^[1] were a Germanic people who ruled most of the Italian Peninsula from 568 to 774. They themselves thought that they had originally come from southern Scandinavia. In ancient times they had worshiped nature, but later the worshiped Odin. They grew long beards in honor of Odin and became known as "Longobards" which means "long beards".

In about 560 A.D., Audoin, who was their leader and a warrior, was succeeded by his son Alboin, a young and energetic leader. He defeated some neighboring tribes and then, in the spring of 568, Alboin led the Lombard migration into Italy.^[2] According to the History of the Lombards, "Then the Langobards, having left Pannonia, hastened to take possession of Italy with their wives and children and all their goods."

When they came to Italy, most of the Lombards still followed their old religion, but some were Arian Christians. Most of them later adopted Orthodox Christian views. In later years they fought with the Franks and later the Muslims. The Normans also fought with them between 1017 and 1078 A.D. As a result, Italy consisted of many small states until modern times.

References

↑ "Lombard". Collins English Dictionary.
↑
Lombards Media
- Paul the Deacon, historian of the Lombards, circa 720–799
- Distribution of Langobardic burial fields at the Lower Elbe Lands (according to W. Wegewitz)
- Rosamund forced to drink from the skull of her father by Pietro della Vecchia. According to Samu Szádeczky-Kardoss, the cup could be a gift from Bayan, as it was a nomad habit to make cups from the enemy's skulls
- Lombard grave goods (sixth–seventh century), Milan, Lombardy
- Plutei of Theodota, mid-eighth century, Civic Museums of Pavia.
- The Frankish Merovingian King Chlothar II in combat with the Lombards
- King Liutprand (712–744) "was a zealous Catholic, generous and a great founder of monasteries"
- Lombard Duchy of Benevento in the eighth century
- Italy around the turn of the millennium, showing the Lombard states in the south on the eve of the arrival of the Normans.
Peters, Edward (2003). History of the Lombards: Translated by William Dudley Foulke. University of Pennsylvania Press.

[1] "Lombard". Collins English Dictionary.

[HGL-2] 
Lombards Media

Paul the Deacon, historian of the Lombards, circa 720–799

Distribution of Langobardic burial fields at the Lower Elbe Lands (according to W. Wegewitz)

Rosamund forced to drink from the skull of her father by Pietro della Vecchia. According to Samu Szádeczky-Kardoss, the cup could be a gift from Bayan, as it was a nomad habit to make cups from the enemy's skulls

Lombard grave goods (sixth–seventh century), Milan, Lombardy

Plutei of Theodota, mid-eighth century, Civic Museums of Pavia.

The Frankish Merovingian King Chlothar II in combat with the Lombards

King Liutprand (712–744) "was a zealous Catholic, generous and a great founder of monasteries"

Lombard Duchy of Benevento in the eighth century

Italy around the turn of the millennium, showing the Lombard states in the south on the eve of the arrival of the Normans.

Peters, Edward (2003). History of the Lombards: Translated by William Dudley Foulke. University of Pennsylvania Press.

[3] Paul the Deacon, historian of the Lombards, circa 720–799

[4] Distribution of Langobardic burial fields at the Lower Elbe Lands (according to W. Wegewitz)

[5] Rosamund forced to drink from the skull of her father by Pietro della Vecchia. According to Samu Szádeczky-Kardoss, the cup could be a gift from Bayan, as it was a nomad habit to make cups from the enemy's skulls

[6] Lombard grave goods (sixth–seventh century), Milan, Lombardy

[7] Plutei of Theodota, mid-eighth century, Civic Museums of Pavia.

[8] The Frankish Merovingian King Chlothar II in combat with the Lombards

[9] King Liutprand (712–744) "was a zealous Catholic, generous and a great founder of monasteries"

[10] Lombard Duchy of Benevento in the eighth century

[11] Italy around the turn of the millennium, showing the Lombard states in the south on the eve of the arrival of the Normans.

[1]

[2]

Lombards

References

Lombards Media