This article is about the specific polity Kingdom of the Lombards and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.
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Was the kingdom of the Lombards, a Germanic people, during the Migration Period (also known as the Barbarian Invasions). The Lombards had initially established themselves in Noricum, modern-day eastern Austria, but left the region to settle in Italy, controlled by the Byzantine at the time. The Lombards quickly conquered most of Italy, with the exception of Latium and the Exarchate of Ravenna. The Kingdom was conquered by the Frankish Empire in 774. The Lombard domains in southern Italy were autonomous and lasted longer, being conquered by the Normans in the XI and XII centuries.
Establishment
May 568: Having the dangerous Avars as neighbours, Lombard king Alboin decided to launch himself towards the plains of Italy, just devastated by the bloody Gothic war. In 568 the Lombards invaded Italy by crossing the Isonzo.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
The Byzantines reconquered Classis, the harbour of Ravenna, from the Lombards.
January 589: In 579, he sacked Classis, the harbour of Ravenna. Between 584 and 588, Classis was retaken by Droctulf.
Were the conquests in northern and central Italy of Lombard king Agilulf.
January 589: Expansion of the Lombard Kingdom by 588.
Was the invasion of the italian Peninsula, recently reconquered by the Eastern Romans from the Ostrogoths, by the Germanic people of the Lombards.
January 591: In 590 a Byzantine incursion, strengthened by new armies sent by the Empire and led by the patrician Gallicino, brought the cities of Modena and Mantua under the control of the Exarchate of Italy while simultaneously obtaining the submission of the dukes of Parma, Reggio and Piacenza.
January 594: The Lombards conquer Modena.
January 594: The Lombards conquer Mantova.
January 604: In 603 Agilulf managed to go over to the counterattack and definitively reconquer Parma.
3.1.Lombard conquests under king Alboin
Lombard conquests under king Alboin.
June 572: The Lombard conquests at the death of Alboin.
3.1.1.Lombards enter Italy
In 568 AD the Lombards entered Italy from the Isonzo area.
3.1.2.Lombard conquest of Aquileia, Vicenza and Verona
Lombard conquest of Aquileia, Vicenza and Verona.
September 569: Aquileia, Vicenza and Verona fell to the Langobards.
3.1.3.Lombard conquest of Lucca and Milan
Lombard conquest of Lucca and Milan.
October 569: In September 569, Milan and Lucca opened their doors to the invading Lombards, led by King Alboin. The Lombards were a Germanic tribe who established the Kingdom of the Lombards in Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
3.1.4.Lombard conquest of Pavia
Lombard conquest of Pavia.
June 572: In 572, after three years of siege, Pavia also fell to the Kingdom of the Lombards, led by King Alboin.
3.2.Clefi´s conquest of Tuscia
Lombard conquest of Tuscany.
February 574: The successor of Alboin Clefi continues the infiltration of Italy up to his death (574) conquering Tuscia.
3.3.Rule of the Dukes
Was an interregnum in the Lombard Kingdom of Italy during which Italy was ruled by the Lombard dukes of the old Roman provinces and urban centres.
3.3.1.Conquest of Classis
Lombard conquest of Classis.
January 580: In 579, he sacked Classis, the harbour of Ravenna. Between 584 and 588, Classis was retaken by Droctulf.
January 580: Sack of Classis.
3.3.2.Siege of Rome (580)
Lombard siege of Rome.
January 580: The Liber Pontificalis narrates that in those years many fortresses were forced to surrender to the Lombards due to hunger and that Rome itself was besieged by them in 579. In 579 Rome was also besieged, but the siege failed.
February 580: The Liber Pontificalis narrates that in those years many fortresses were forced to surrender to the Lombards due to hunger and that Rome itself was besieged by them in 579. In 579 Rome was also besieged, but the siege failed.
3.3.3.Frankish Invasion of Italy (585)
The Byzantines paid the Franks to invade the Kingdom of the Lombards.
January 585: From 582, Byzantine Emperor Maurice sought Frankish intervention against the Lombards in Northern Italy. In 583, an embassy was sent to King of Metz Childebert II with 50,000 gold solidi. The Frankish king invaded in 584.
February 585: The Frankish king invaded Childebert II withdrew from northern Italy after being paid off by the Lombard dukes.
3.4.Lombard conquest of Parma and Piacenza
Lombard king Agilulf conquered Parma and Piacenza from the Byzantines.
3.5.Lombard conquest of Liguria and Oderzo
The Lombard king Rothari conquers Liguria and Oderzo, completing the Lombard occupation of northern Italy.
January 643: The Lombard king Rothari conquers Liguria and Oderzo, completing the langobardic occupation of northern Italy.
3.6.Occupation of Cities in the church state by the lombards
Military Campaign by Gisulf I of Benevento against the Papal States.
January 706: Around 705, Lombard duke Gisulfo took the cities of Sora, Arpino and Arce. He marched as far as Horrea, looting and burning, before being confronted with gifts from ambassadors from Pope John VI, who ransomed many of his captives and persuaded him to return whence he came, to his own domains.
February 706: The Lombards leave the cities of Sora, Arpino ed Arce, and Horrea after a raid.
3.7.Campaigns of Liutprand
Were a series of military campaigns by Lombard king Liutprand against the Byzantine Empire.
January 727: Later Liutprand used the unrest caused by the iconoclastic policy of the Byzantine emperor Leo III to embark on a new campaign. Byzantium also increased the tax burden on the Exarchate of Italy. In response, riots against the Byzantine Empire flared up in several cities. Liutprand, taking advantage of the fiery climate, crossed the Po river and invaded the Exarchate, occupying Bologna and threatening Ravenna.
January 729: Lombard conquest of Bologna, Osimo, Ancona, many cities of the Emilia region and Classis.
3.8.Lombard conquest of Corsica
Lombard king Liuthprand conquered Corsica.
January 726: The first Moorish raids on Corsica began around 713-719 from the Balearic Islands to the west. Acting as the protector of the Catholic Church and its faithful, Liutprand subjected the island to Lombard government (c. 725), though it was nominally under Byzantine authority. Corsica remained with the Lombard kingdom even after the Frankish conquest, by which time Lombard landholders and churches had established a significant presence on the island.
3.9.Lombard conquests in the Penthapolis
Lombard king Liuthprand conquers Bologna, Frignano, Monteveglio, Busseto, Persiceto and Osimo).
January 730: Lombard King Liuthprand conquers Bologna, Frignano, Monteveglio, Busseto, Persiceto and Osimo.
3.10.Occupation of Ravenna
Byzantine occupation of Ravenna, at the time controlled by the Lombards.
January 733: While Liutprando was in Benevento to reassert the authority of the central power over the unruly duchy, his nephew Ildebrando and the Duke of Vicenza Peredeo managed to conquer Ravenna itself. The conquest, which seemed to herald the unification of the whole of Italy under the Lombard crown, however proved to be ephemeral for the moment: after a short time, the fleet of Venice, called for help by the new Pope Gregory III, brought the capital of the Exarchate back under the Byzantine authority. Peredeus fell and Hildebrand was taken prisoner, restoring impetus to the Byzantines. The Byzantine duke of Perugia, Agathon, attempted to reconquer Bologna, but was severely defeated by the Lombard army (although Liutprando was still in Benevento).
February 733: While Liutprando was in Benevento to reassert the authority of the central power over the unruly duchy, his nephew Ildebrando and the Duke of Vicenza Peredeo managed to conquer Ravenna itself. The conquest, which seemed to herald the unification of the whole of Italy under the Lombard crown, however proved to be ephemeral for the moment: after a short time, the fleet of Venice, called for help by the new Pope Gregory III, brought the capital of the Exarchate back under the Byzantine authority. Peredeus fell and Hildebrand was taken prisoner, restoring impetus to the Byzantines. The Byzantine duke of Perugia, Agathon, attempted to reconquer Bologna, but was severely defeated by the Lombard army (although Liutprando was still in Benevento).
3.11.Conquest of papal cities by the lombards
Military campaign of Lombard king Liutprand against the Ducatus Romanus, the province around Rome.
January 739: Liutprand immediately began the conquest of the Ducatus Romanus, the province around Rome. After capturing Orte and Bomarzo, he arrived at Rome and besieged it. The Pope sent an embassy to Charles Martel to beg for aid, promising favour then and in the future world: the cover letter survives.
February 739: Liutprand immediately began the conquest of the Ducatus Romanus, the province around Rome. After capturing Orte and Bomarzo, he arrived at Rome and besieged it. The Pope sent an embassy to Charles Martel to beg for aid, promising favour then and in the future world: the cover letter survives.
January 743: With the appointment of Zacharias as pope, Liutprand returned to seek papal consent: the two met in Terni in 743 where the Lombard king made an act of renunciation of possession of some Umbrian cities occupied in 742, when he had annexed the duchies of Spoleto and of Benevento, donating Narni, Blera, Orte, Bomarzo and Terni to the Roman duchy.
January 744: With the appointment of Zacharias as pope, Liutprand returned to seek papal consent: the two met in Terni in 743 where the Lombard king made an act of renunciation of possession of some Umbrian cities occupied in 742, when he had annexed the duchies of Spoleto and of Benevento, donating Narni, Blera, Orte, Bomarzo and Terni to the Roman duchy.
3.12.Lombard Invasion of the Exarchate
Lombard Invasion of the Exarchate.
January 744: Cesena conquered by Kingdom of the Lombards.
February 744: Cesena conquered by Byzantine Empire.
3.13.Lombard conquest of Ferrara and Comacchio
Lombard conquest of Ferrara and Comacchio.
January 751: Lombard conquest of Ferrara and Comacchio.
3.14.Lombard conquest of Histria
Lombard conquest of Histria.
January 752: In 751, the Longobards, led by King Aistulf, conquered the territory of Histria, which included the city of Ravenna. This marked a significant expansion of the Kingdom of the Lombards in Italy.
3.15.Lombard conquest of Ravenna
Lombard conquest of Ravenna.
January 752: The Longobard conquest of Ravenna in 751 was led by King Aistulf of the Lombards. This marked the end of Byzantine rule in the region and solidified Lombard control over much of Italy, including Istria.
3.16.Occupation of Ceccano
Lombard occupation of Ceccano.
January 754: Astolfo was the King of the Lombards from 749 to 756. Ceccano was a strategic stronghold in the Duchy of Rome. Astolfo's raids were part of his efforts to assert control over the region and demonstrate his military power.
The Byzantine Hexarc Romanus reconquers Sutri, Bomarzo, Orte, Todi, Amelia, Perugia and Luceoli from the Lombards.
January 593: The byzantine Hexarc Romanus reconquers Sutri, Bomarzo, Orte, Todi, Amelia, Perugia, Luceoli.
The Byzantine Exarch of Ravenna Callinicus conquered Parma from the Lombards.
January 603: In 602, the Byzantines, led by the Emperor Maurice, successfully reconquered the city of Parma from the Lombards. This victory was part of the ongoing conflict between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Lombard Kingdom for control of Italy.
Was the cession, made in 728 by the Lombard King Liutprand to Pope Gregory II, of some castles in Latium important for the defense of Rome, the largest of which was that of Sutri.
January 729: Having just overwhelmed the Byzantine forces, though it was left to his heirs to make the final vestige of the Exarchate of Ravenna Lombard at last, Liutprand advanced towards Rome along the Via Cassia. He was met at the ancient city of Sutri by Pope Gregory II (728). There the two reached an agreement, by which Sutri and some hill towns in Latium (see Vetralla) were given to the Papacy, "as a gift to the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul" according to the Liber Pontificalis. They were the first extension of Papal territory beyond the confines of the Duchy of Rome.
January 729: Pope Gregory II (715-731) directly addressed the Lombard king Liutprand, asking him to renounce the territories already conquered and to return them to the Byzantine exarch as legitimate owner. Liutprand, on the other hand, donated the castrum of Sutri to the pontiff. According to historians, with the "Donation of Sutri" the pontiff acquired formally recognized temporal power for the first time.
Carinthia became a vassal of the Duchy of Bavaria.
January 744: In 743, Duke Odilo of Bavaria established vassalage over the Slavic princes of Carinthia, seeking protection from the Avar invaders. This marked the expansion of the Kingdom of the Bavarians into the region known as "Kärnet" on the map.
Were a series of military campaings of the Lombard King Aistulf against the Byzantine territories in Italy.
January 752: Having reorganized and strengthened the army, Astolfo immediately went on the offensive against the Italian territories still subject (albeit more in name than in fact) to the Byzantine Empire. In 750 he invaded the Exarchate from the north, occupying Comacchio and Ferrara. In the summer of 751 he managed to conquer Istria and then Ravenna itself, the capital and symbol of Byzantine power in Italy. He settled in the exarch's palace, which was equalized to the royal palace of Pavia as the center of the Lombard kingdom.
Were a series of wars between the Frankish and Lombard Kingdoms. Charlemagne finally incorporated the Kingdom of the Lombards in the Frankish Kingdom.
9.1.First War of Aistulf
Was the first War between Pepin the short, King of the Franks, and Aistulf, King of the Lombards.
January 756: Worried about the rise of Lombard power, Pope Stephen II asked for the intervention of Pepin the Short, king of the Franks. The Frankish king was also freshly indebted to the papacy for legitimizing his usurpation against the Merovingians and wanted to prevent the highest Catholic religious authority, also influential within his kingdom, from becoming a vassal of the Lombards. In the spring of 755 Pepin moved against the Lombard and faced them in battle at the locks of the Val di Susa, inflicting a severe defeat on his enemies. The Lombard king fled to Pavia, which was besieged by Pepin.
February 756: The Frankish army leave Pavia, ending the siege of the city.
9.2.Siege of Rome (756)
Was the Siege of Rome by Lombard King Aistulf.
February 756: Shortly after the withdrawal of the Frankish army Aistulf returned to the offensive, besieging Rome again (756). The siege lasted from January to March. In early April, Astolfo lifted the siege and returned to Pavia. In April the Alpine passes became passable again, so Pippin could have gone down to Italy and invaded its territories.
May 756: Shortly after the withdrawal of the Frankish army Aistulf returned to the offensive, besieging Rome again (756). The siege lasted from January to March. In early April, Astolfo lifted the siege and returned to Pavia. In April the Alpine passes became passable again, so Pippin could have gone down to Italy and invaded its territories.
9.3.Second War of Aistulf
Was the second War between Pepin the short, King of the Franks, and Aistulf, King of the Lombards.
July 756: Aistulf capitulated and had to suffer even harsher peace conditions (Second Peace of Pavia, June 756). Pepin donated the conquered lands to the Apostolic See.
January 757: Pippin, in 756, crossed the Alps again at the Moncenisio pass (Pippin's second expedition against Astolfo). The Longobards, having left Rome, had taken to the locks of the Alpine passes, where they were defeated by the Franks (April 756). Then, with his nephew Tassilone III of Bavaria, Pepin devastating the region pursued them up to Pavia, which was placed under siege.
February 757: Pippin, in 756, crossed the Alps again at the Moncenisio pass (Pippin's second expedition against Astolfo). The Longobards, having left Rome, had taken to the locks of the Alpine passes, where they were defeated by the Franks (April 756). Then, with his nephew Tassilone III of Bavaria, Pepin devastating the region pursued them up to Pavia, which was placed under siege.
9.4.War against Pope Hadrian
Was a military campaign of Lombard King Desiderius against the Papal States.
April 772: In January 772 Pope Stephen III died, succeeded by Adrian I, who got rid of the head of the pro-Lombard party. Desiderio grasped the danger of a new alliance between the pope and the Franks and attempted to thwart it diplomatically. However, Hadrian remained adamant in his demand for the complete execution of the previous agreements, with the cession to the papacy of all the territories he claimed. Desiderio then went on the offensive, again invading the Exarchate, reconquering Faenza, Ferrara and Comacchio and threatening Ravenna.
November 772: At the end of 772, Desiderius intensified military pressure by occupying Senigallia, Jesi and Gubbio, entering the Roman Duchy and threatening Rome itself.
9.5.Frankish Invasion of Italy (773)
Was the first military campaign of Frankish King Charles the Great against the Kingdom of the Lombards.
May 773: Hadrian excommunicated the Lombard king and asked for help from Charlemagne. The Frankish king was at the time engaged in the wars against the Saxons, but nevertheless answered the call to save his prestige as protector of the papacy. In the spring of 773 Charles gathered his army near Geneva and divided it into two sections: one would descend the Valle d'Aosta, defended by Adelchi, the other, led by Charles himself, would follow the traditional route across the Moncenisio. There, at the Chiuse near Susa, Desiderio managed to hold back the Franks, but the front manned by Adelchi gave way under the impact of the army led by Carlo's uncle, Bernardo.
9.6.Frankish Invasion of Italy (775)
Was the second military campaign of Frankish king Charles the Great against the Kingdom of the Lombards, which was annexed to the Frankish possessions.
January 775: Charles conquered the Lombards and thus included northern Italy in his sphere of influence.
January 632: Samo's Empire was a confederation of Slavic tribes, including Czechs, Slovaks, Sorbians and other western Slavic tribes along the Danube river, gathered around the Frankish merchant Samos.
January 659: Carantania, also known as Carentania, was a Slavic principality that emerged in the second half of the 7th century, in the territory of present-day southern Austria and north-eastern Slovenia. It was the predecessor of the March of Carinthia, created within the Carolingian Empire in 889.
January 663: Its destinies were closely linked to the Lombard royal crown only during Grimoald's reign.
January 672: Grimoald king of the Lombards: 662-671.
January 698: The birth of the Duchy of Venice is conventionally placed in 697.
January 730: Liutprand marched on Spoleto and obtained the submission of the dukes Thrasamund II (Spoleto) and Romualdo II (Benevento), who swore allegiance to him.
January 743: In 742 Transemund was forcibly retired to a monastery by Liutprand, who conferred the duchy that he had rewon by force of arms upon Agiprand (742).
January 757: On Astolfo's death, the Spoleto population acclaimed the new duke Alboino, also supported by Pope Stephen II (752-757) who, having ascertained the breaking of the truce with the Lombards.
January 757: Aistulf capitulated and had to suffer even harsher peace conditions (Second Peace of Pavia, June 756). Pepin donated the conquered lands to the Apostolic See.
May 757: Mindful of Aistulf's precedent, Desiderius believed he could avoid new interventions by the Franks in support of the papacy through a policy of small concessions to the pontiff. In 757 he handed over Ferrara, Faenza and some possessions in the Pentapolis to the Pope, but kept most of the territories promised to Pope Stephen II at the time.
January 758: Mindful of Aistulf's precedent, Desiderius believed he could avoid new interventions by the Franks in support of the papacy through a policy of small concessions to the pontiff. In 757 he handed over Ferrara, Faenza and some possessions in the Pentapolis to the Pope, but kept most of the territories promised to Pope Stephen II at the time.
January 759: In 758 Alboin was attacked and defeated by the new king Desiderius (756-774).
January 764: The formation of the Duchy of Naples was a gradual process, leading to an ever-increasing importance of the dux, who in 638 finally became the highest civil and military authority. In 763, Duke Stefano II of Naples minted local coins, with the effigy of the patron saint and his own monogram. According to some historians, the autonomy of the duchy dates back to then, but it continued to be part, at least nominally, of the Byzantine Empire.
Disestablishment
January 775: Charles conquered the Lombards and thus included northern Italy in his sphere of influence.
Selected Sources
Droysen, G. (1886): Historischer Handatlas, Bielefeld and Leipzig (Germany)
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Kingdom of the Lombards
