11.24.05
Lombard History Italian Lakes
Lombard History Italian Lakes
The Lombard’s were a nomadic Germanic tribal people originally from Scandinavia that entered the late Roman Empire. Their own history tells us how they left Scandinavia under leaders such as Ibor and settled in central Europe, where they were recorded by Tacitus as early as 98 CE.
The Lombard’s were renowned for there bravery in battle and were feared by the surrounding powerful nations. In 568 they invaded northern Italy under their king Alboin, but were unsuccessful at conquering any city with battlements. Unable to breach the cities they settled for what they could find in the countryside and they established there new capital Pavia. After the death of King Alboin and his successor, the Lombard’s were unable to choose a king for more than 10 years, during this time the various regions were ruled by dukes.
When they settled in Italy, many Lombard’s remained pagan, while some were converted Arian Christians. This affected relations with the Catholic Church, straining the ties with Rome. Gradually, over time, they adopted Roman titles, names, and traditions, and converted to the catholic faith. Aryanism was a Christian view held by followers of Arius in the early Christian Church, claiming that Jesus Christ and God the Father were not always contemporary, seeing the Son as a divine being, created by the Father.
The last Lombard to rule as king of the Lombard’s was Desiderius, who ruled until 774, when Charlemagne not only conquered the Lombard kingdom, but also took the title King of the Lombard’s. Charlemagne took part of the Lombard territory and created the Papal States.
The Lombardy region in Italy, which includes the cities of Varese, Bergamo and Milan, is full of reminders of the presence of the Lombard people Much of our knowledge of the early history of the Lombard people comes from Paul the Deacon’s History of the Lombard’s, written in the late 8th century. A legend recorded by Paul the Deacon, tells us that their name was derived from a joke played on Odin by his wife Frige. She told the Lombard women to tie their hair in front of their faces and when Odin saw them he asked about the long beards. Then Frigg proclaimed that Odin had named them long beards. Historians believe the name was derived from the name of a preferred weapon of the Lombard’s in war, the “long halberd” or long-bladed axe.
Italian Lakes Tourist Information Guides – Tourism in Varese.
