Lombards

The Lombards, also known as the Longobards or Langobards, were a Germanic people who played a major role in the history of Europe. They began their journey in the north, near what is now Hamburg, and later lived along the Lower Elbe river. By the 5th century, they had moved to the Middle Danube region, near present-day Austria, Slovenia, and Hungary.

In the mid-6th century, the Lombards, under their leader Alboin, entered northeastern Italy. Italy at that time had been weakened by wars, making it easier for the Lombards to take control. By 569 AD, they had conquered most of northern Italy, establishing what became known as the Lombard Kingdom. Their rule lasted until 774 AD when the Frankish king Charlemagne took over, though Lombard nobles kept power in some southern areas for centuries. Today, the name of the region Lombardy in northern Italy reminds us of their lasting influence.

Name

The name "Lombards" comes from ancient words meaning "long-beards." Writers from a long time ago said the Lombards were called this because they never cut their beards. Stories about the Lombards connect their name to a special trick their ancestors played.

Some later writers used a shorter name, "Bardi." Places in northern Germany, like Bardengau and Bardowick, might be linked to this name.

Legendary origins

According to old stories, the Lombards were first called Winnili and were led by two brothers named Ibor and Aio. Their mother, Gambara, played an important role in their history. These stories describe their early homes in places far to the north, such as near the Elbe River.

One famous tale tells how the Winnili women tied their hair in front of their faces to look like beards. When the god Odin saw them at sunrise, he asked, "Who are these long-beards?" From that day, they were known as the Langobardi, or Lombards, because of their long beards. Different writings tell slightly different versions of this story, but they all agree that the Lombards had a special connection to their appearance and their gods.

Wodan (Godan) and Frigg (Frea) looking out of a window in the heavens...

Main article: Goths written by Jordanes

Main article: Gaul

Main article: Vandals

Main article: Baltic

Main article: Bardengau

Main article: Elbe

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Main article: Paderborn

Main article: Catholic

Main article: Christian

Main article: pagan

Main article: name of Odin

Main article: fertility cult

History

The Lombards were a Germanic people who first appeared near the lower Elbe River in the early 1st century AD. Roman historians described them as part of the Suebian peoples, noting they were smaller in number but fierce in battle.

By the 5th century, the Lombards had moved to the Middle Danube region, near present-day Austria and Hungary. Eventually, they migrated to Italy, where they established a kingdom between 568 and 774 AD. They settled in areas like Pavia, which became their first capital, and later expanded into regions such as Tuscany and southern Italy, creating duchies like Spoleto and Benevento. Their history includes interactions with various empires, including the Byzantines and Franks, and they played a significant role in the political landscape of medieval Italy until the rise of the Normans in the 11th century.

Genetics

A genetic study from 2018 showed that Lombards in Italy shared strong genetic ties with Lombards from Central Europe. Most Lombard men carried specific genetic markers common in Germanic peoples, suggesting they came from Central or Northern Europe.

Another study from 2018 looked at the remains of a Lombard man and found he was closely related to people from Northern Europe, especially areas like Lithuania and Iceland. These findings suggest that Lombards migrated from the north to Italy, bringing their genes with them.

Culture

The Lombards had their own language, called Lombardic, which is now extinct. Only small pieces of it remain, mostly single words found in old Latin texts. Because we don’t have any full Lombardic texts, it’s hard to know much about its grammar or how sentences were built. We do know that Lombardic was part of a group of German languages and showed some early changes that later affected many German dialects.

Lombardic words survived in old inscriptions and legal documents. Some of these words made their way into Italian, such as guerra (war) and ricco (rich). The Lombards lived in different areas and came into contact with other groups, which influenced their social structure. They developed a strict class system, unlike many other Germanic tribes. Their kings traced their lineage back to around 380 AD, and kingship became important as a way to unite their military forces.

Lombard society was divided into nobles, freemen, serfs, and slaves. The nobles were often urban and not as wealthy as nobles in other places. Freemen made up a large part of the population and could serve in the army when needed. The Lombards built cities that were often small and scattered, with patches of open land between them.

The Lombards initially practiced ancient Germanic religions but later converted to Christianity. Their conversion was not always complete, especially among ordinary people. Over time, most Lombards became Catholic, especially after the influence of queens and kings who supported the Church. In southern Italy, the Lombards developed their own special Christian traditions and styles of church music and writing.

The Lombards created art and architecture that blended their Germanic roots with influences from the Byzantine Empire and Christian traditions. They made beautiful jewellery, weapons, and later built churches and monasteries. Some of their most famous buildings are still standing today, showing a mix of early medieval and Romanesque styles.

List of rulers

Main article: List of kings of the Lombards

The Lombards were a Germanic people who had many kings and leaders during their time. Their rulers helped guide the group as they moved from places near modern-day Hamburg to the Middle Danube, and finally to the Italian Peninsula. These leaders played important roles in shaping the history of the Lombards during their adventures and settlements in Europe.

Notes and sources

(Note: This section has been omitted as it contains only references, citations, and bibliographic information which are not suitable for the Discoverer level.)