Lombard kingdom

The Lombard kingdom was established in Italy by a Germanic people who ruled from 568 to 774 CE. Originally from northwestern Germany, the Lombards migrated into northern Italy in 568 CE, encountering little resistance from the Byzantine Empire. They conquered much of northern Italy and established settlements in central and southern regions.1

Initially, the Lombards were ruled by dukes, a period marked by disorder. However, they eventually established a monarchy, with Pavia becoming a key administrative center. The Lombards converted to orthodox Christianity in the late 7th century. Their rule ended in 774 CE when the Frankish king Charlemagne conquered their kingdom. The northern Italian region that was their stronghold is now known as Lombardy.1

Lombard architecture, dating from the 8th century, is characterized by round arches. The Lombard League, a coalition of northern Italian cities, later formed in the 12th century to resist the Holy Roman emperors.23