Lombards

The Lombards were a Germanic people who entered Italy in 568 and founded a kingdom that lasted until Charlemagne conquered it in 774.

Migration Period: A period of large-scale population movements across Europe, conventionally dated from the fourth to the eighth centuries. The Lombards’ move into Italy formed part of these wider European migrations.
Lombard Kingdom: A kingdom established by the Lombards in Italy in 568 and conquered by the Franks in 774. It was the political structure through which Lombards ruled much of Italy.
Frankish conquest of the Lombard Kingdom: The Frankish campaign of 773–774 that ended Lombard kingship in northern Italy. Charlemagne’s victory brought the Lombard kingdom to an end in 774.
Byzantine Italy: The territories in Italy governed by the Byzantine Empire after the Western Roman Empire’s collapse. Lombard expansion repeatedly competed with Byzantine authority in Italy.
Pannonia: A historical region of central Europe, largely in modern Hungary, between the Danube and the Alps. Before entering Italy, the Lombards established themselves in this region.
Lombard duchies: Semi-autonomous territories ruled by Lombard dukes within and beyond the Lombard kingdom. Dukes governed extensive territories, sometimes with limited control from the king.
Charlemagne: King of the Franks from 768 and emperor from 800, who conquered the Lombard kingdom in 774. His conquest ended Lombard royal rule while preserving some local institutions.
Exarchate of Ravenna: A Byzantine administrative territory in northeastern and central Italy, governed by an exarch at Ravenna. It was a major Byzantine stronghold facing Lombard expansion.
Alboin: A Lombard king who led his people into Italy and founded the Lombard kingdom there. His leadership shaped the migration that began Lombard rule in Italy.
Lombard law: The legal traditions of the Lombards, recorded in Latin under King Rothari in 643. Its written code shows how Lombard rulers formalized customary law.

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