The Lombards or Langobards (Latin: Langobardī, Italian Longobardi), are a Germanic tribe who rule Italy from 568 to 774.The Lombard historian Paul the Deacon wrote in the Historia Langobardorum that the Lombards descended from a small tribe called the Winnili who dwelt in southern Scandinavia (Scadanan) before migrating to seek new lands.
In the 1st century CE, they form part of the Suebi, in northwestern Germany.
By the end of the 5th century they have moved into the area roughly coinciding with modern Austria north of the Danube river, where they subdue the Heruls and later fight frequent wars with the Gepids.
The Lombard king Audoin defeats the Gepid leader Thurisind in 551 or 552; his successor Alboin eventually destroys the Gepids at the Battle of Asfeld in 567.Following this victory, Alboin decides to lead his people to Italy, which had become severely depopulated after the long Gothic War (535–554) between the Byzantine Empire and the Ostrogothic Kingdom there.
The Lombards are joined by numerous Saxons, Heruls, Gepids, Bulgars, Thuringians, and Ostrogoths, and their invasion of Italy is almost unopposed.
By late 569, they have conquered all the principal cities north of the Po River except Pavia, which falls in 572.
At the same time, they occupy areas in central and southern Italy.
They establish a Lombard Kingdom in Italy, later named Regnum Italicum ("Kingdom of Italy"), which reaches its zenith under the 8th-century ruler Liutprand.
In 774, the Kingdom is conquered by the Frankish King Charlemagne and integrated into his Empire.
However, Lombard nobles continue to rule parts of the Italian peninsula well into the 11th century when they are conquered by the Normans and added to their County of Sicily.
Their legacy is apparent in the regional name, Lombardy.
