History glossary
Lombard
a Germanic people and kingdom that ruled much of Italy before Charlemagne conquered them in 774.
- Category
- People and kingdom
- Region
- Italy
- Date range
- 568-774
What it means
The Lombards entered Italy in the sixth century and built a kingdom centred in the north, with Pavia as an important capital. Their pressure on papal territory helped push popes toward Frankish protection, and Charlemagne ended the independent Lombard kingdom in 774.
Related terms
Stories using this term
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The Fall of Rome to Early Medieval Europe
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The Rise of the Medieval Church
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