Historia Langobardorum

work by Paul the Deacon

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The Historia Langobardorum ("History of the Lombards") is a crucial work by the Lombard historian and poet Paul the Deacon. Written around the late 8th or early 9th century, it is the primary source of information about the Lombard people. Paul the Deacon drew upon both written records and oral traditions to chronicle Lombard history up to the year 744. His work also includes a story about the origin of the Lombards, featuring the goddess Frea and Godan, which is also found in Scandinavian sources. Paul the Deacon's historical writings provide invaluable insights into the culture, beliefs, and history of the Lombards, preserving knowledge that might otherwise have been lost.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Germanic religion and mythology
Early medieval records
…mentioned in his fairly comprehensive Historia Langobardorum (“History of the Lombards”). Paul used written sources available to him and seemed also to draw upon Lombard tradition in prose and verse.
Read More
…mentioned in his fairly comprehensive Historia Langobardorum (“History of the Lombards”). Paul used written sources available to him and seemed also to draw upon Lombard tradition in prose and verse.
Read More

Paul The Deacon
…Montecassino, Benevento) was a Lombard historian and poet, whose Historia Langobardorum (“History of the Lombards”) is the principal source on his people.
Read More
…Montecassino, Benevento) was a Lombard historian and poet, whose Historia Langobardorum (“History of the Lombards”) is the principal source on his people.
Read More