The Kings of the Lombards or ''reges Langobardorum'' (singular ''rex Langobardorum'') were the monarchs of the
Lombard people from the early 6th century until the Lombardic identity became lost in the 9th and 10th centuries. After 568, the Lombard kings sometimes styled themselves
Kings of Italy (''rex totius Italiae''). After 774, they were not Lombards, but
Franks
The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools ...
. From the 12th century, the
votive crown and
reliquary known as the
Iron Crown (''Corona Ferrea'') retrospectively became a symbol of their rule, though it was never used by Lombard kings.
The primary sources for the Lombard kings before the Frankish conquest are the anonymous 7th-century ''
Origo Gentis Langobardorum'' and the 8th-century ''
Historia Langobardorum
The ''History of the Lombards'' or the ''History of the Langobards'' ( la, Historia Langobardorum) is the chief work by Paul the Deacon, written in the late 8th century. This incomplete history in six books was written after 787 and at any rate ...
'' of
Paul the Deacon. The earliest kings (the pre-Lethings) listed in the ''Origo'' are almost certainly legendary. They purportedly reigned during the
Migration Period. The first ruler attested independently of Lombard tradition is Tato.
Early rulers
Legendary rulers
*
Shava
*Ybor and Agio, brothers, together with their mother
Gambara
Gambara (Brescian: ), not to be confused with Gambarana, is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. Bordering communes are Asola (MN), Fiesse, Gottolengo, Isorella, Ostiano (CR), Pralboino, Remedello and Volongo (CR) ...
, who led the emigration from
Scandinavia
Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and S ...
*Agilmund, son of Agio
*Laiamicho (Lamissio)
*
Ortnit
Ortnit is the eponymous protagonist of the Middle High German heroic epic ''Ortnit''. First written down in strophic form in around 1230 by an anonymous author, it circulated in a number of distinct versions.
In the earliest version, King Ortnit ...
Lething Dynasty {{Short description, Dynasty of Lombard kings
The Lethings ( it, Letingi) were a dynasty of Lombard kings ruling in the 5th and 6th centuries until 546. They were the first Lombard royal dynasty and represent the emergence of the Lombard rulership ...
The Lethings were an early dynasty from the time of Lethuc. The last ruling descendant of Lethuc was
Walthari, whose son was in turn displaced by
Audoin
Alduin (Langobardic: ''Aldwin'' or ''Hildwin'', ; also called Auduin or Audoin) was king of the Lombards from 547 to 560.
Life
Audoin was of the Gausi, a prominent Lombard ruling clan, and according to the ''Historia Langobardorum'', the so ...
of the family of the Gausi.
*
Lethuc (fl. c. 400), ruled for some 40 years.
*
Aldihoc (mid-5th century)
*
Godehoc (480s), led the Lombards into modern-day Austria
*
Claffo (fl. c. 500)
*
Tato (early 6th century, died perhaps 510), his son Ildichus died in exile
*
Wacho
Wacho (also Waccho; probably from ''Waldchis'') was king of the Lombards before they entered Italy from an unknown date (perhaps c. 510) until his death in 539. His father was Unichis. Wacho usurped the throne by assassinating (or having assa ...
(510–539), son of Unichus
*
Walthari (539–546), son of Wacho
Gausian Dynasty
*
Audoin
Alduin (Langobardic: ''Aldwin'' or ''Hildwin'', ; also called Auduin or Audoin) was king of the Lombards from 547 to 560.
Life
Audoin was of the Gausi, a prominent Lombard ruling clan, and according to the ''Historia Langobardorum'', the so ...
(546–565), led the Lombards into
Pannonia
Kings in Italy
Gausian Dynasty
*
Alboin
Alboin (530s – 28 June 572) was king of the Lombards from about 560 until 572. During his reign the Lombards ended their migrations by settling in Italy, the northern part of which Alboin conquered between 569 and 572. He had a lasting eff ...
(565–572)
Unnamed dynasty
*
Cleph (572–574)
:''
Rule of the Dukes'' ''(Ten year interregnum)''
*
Authari (584–590), son of previous
*
Agilulf (591–c. 616), cousin of previous
Bavarian Dynasty
*
Adaloald (c. 616–c. 626)
Non-dynastic king
*
Arioald (c. 626–636)
Harodingians The Harodingian dynasty ( it, Arodingi or {{lang, it, Arodi) was a prominent Lombard noble family which provided Italy with two kings in the middle of the seventh century (636–653).
The Harodingians started out owning one small ''fara'' nea ...
*
Rothari
Rothari (or Rothair) ( 606 – 652), of the house of Arodus, was king of the Lombards from 636 to 652; previously he had been duke of Brescia. He succeeded Arioald, who was an Arian like himself, and was one of the most energetic of Lombard kings ...
(636–652)
*
Rodoald
Rodoald (or ''Rodwald''), ( 630 – 653) was a Lombard king of Italy, who succeeded his father Rothari on the throne in 652. He was said to be lecherous and he was assassinated after a reign of just six months in 653 by the husband of one of his l ...
(652–653)
Bavarian Dynasty, First Restoration
*
Aripert I (653–661)
*
Perctarit and
Godepert (661–662)
Beneventan Dynasty
*
Grimuald (662–671)
*
Garibald (671)
Bavarian Dynasty, Second Restoration
*
Perctarit (671–688) (restored from exile)
*
Alahis (688–689), rebel
*
Cunincpert (688–700)
*
Liutpert (700–701)
*
Raginpert (701)
*
Aripert II (701–712)
Non-dynastic kings
*
Ansprand (712)
*
Liutprand (712–744)
*
Hildeprand (744)
*
Ratchis (744–749)
*
Aistulf
Aistulf (also Ahistulf, Aistulfus, Haistulfus, Astolf etc.; it, Astolfo; died December 756) was the Duke of Friuli from 744, King of the Lombards from 749, and Duke of Spoleto from 751. His reign was characterized by ruthless and ambitious ...
(749–756)
*
Desiderius (756–774)
Carolingian Dynasty
The Carolingian dynasty (; known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolingus, Carolings, Karolinger or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family named after Charlemagne, grandson of mayor Charles Martel and a descendant of the Arnulfing and Pi ...
Charlemagne conquered the Lombards in 774 at the invitation of
Pope Adrian I.
*
Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first E ...
(774–781) in personal union, passed kingship to his third son, Pepin.
*
Pepin (or Pippin) (781–810), king under authority of Charlemagne
*
Bernard (810–818)
*
Lothair I (818–839)
*
Louis II (839–875)
The title ''rex Langobardorum'', synonymous with ''rex Italiae'', lasted well into the
High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages, or High Medieval Period, was the periodization, period of European history that lasted from AD 1000 to 1300. The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and were followed by the Late Middle Ages, which ended ...
,
but subsequent holders are found at
King of Italy.
Family tree
Notes
Sources
*
{{Former monarchies Italian peninsula
Lombards Kings
de:Langobarden#Könige der Langobarden
et:Langobardid#Langobardide kuningate loend
ru:Лангобардское королевство#Короли лангобардов