The Lombards, one of the Germanic tribes…

The Lombards, one of the Germanic tribes that formed the Suebi, had by the end of the fifth century moved from their home in northwestern Germany into the area roughly coinciding with modern Austria north of the Danube River.

Their ruler for the past three decades has been Wacho, who had assassinated his uncle Tato and usurped the throne about 510.

Tato's son and grandson had taken refuge with the king of a neighboring Germanic people, the Gepidae, making several fruitless attempts to recover rule over the Lombards.

Shortly after 536, Waccho had made a treaty with Justinian against the Gepids.

Vitiges, King of the Ostrogoths in Italy, hard-pressed by Justinian's general Belisarius, sends ambassadors to Wacho in 539, offering him money in exchange for military aid.

Wacho refuses, preferring to remain on good terms with Constantinople.

Having also good relations with the Franks, Wacho has married off his daughter, Waldrada, to the Frankish prince Theudebald, son of Theudebert of Metz.

Their granddaughter is Theodelinda, who will later become queen of the Lombards.

He his second marriage was to a Gepid princess, Austrigusa, called "Ostrogotha" (perhaps due to her maternal descent from Ostrogothic rulers).

Austrigusa was the mother of two daughters: Wisigarda (who married Theudebert I of Austrasia) and Waldrada (who married firstly Theudebald of Austrasia, secondly Chlothar I, King of the Franks, and thirdly Garibald I of Bavaria).

Wacho's third marriage was to Silinga, a Heruli, and the mother of his son Walhtari.

At the death of Wacho in 539, Walthari rules as an infant king, and his government is administered by Audoin as regent.