Lombards

The Lombards "Lombard". Collins English Dictionary. were a Germanic people who ruled most of the Italian Peninsula from 568 to 774. The Lombards thought that they had originally come from southern Scandinavia. In ancient times, they had worshiped nature, but later, the worshiped Odin. They grew long beards in honor of Odin and became known as Longobards, which means "long beards".

In about 560 A.D., Audoin, who was their leader and a warrior, was succeeded by his son Alboin, a young and energetic leader. He defeated some neighboring tribes and then in the spring of 568 led the Lombard migration into Italy. According to the History of the Lombards, "Then the Langobards, having left Pannonia, hastened to take possession of Italy with their wives and children and all their goods."

When they came to Italy, most of the Lombards still followed their old religion, but some were Arian Christians. Most of them later adopted orthodox Christian views. In later years, they fought the Franks and later the Muslims. The Normans also fought them between 1017 and 1078 AD. As a result, Italy consisted of many small states until modern times.
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Category:Ethnic groups in Europe
Category:Former countries in Europe
Category:Germanic tribes
Category:History of Germany
Category:History of Italy
Category:Lombardy