The Lombard achievement, c. 540–712

Abstract

The people who were to make themselves masters of much of Italy in the course of the late sixth and early seventh centuries were one of the few protagonists of the events of this period who, by name at least, might have been familiar to readers of classical authors. The Lombards were given a brief mention in the Germania of Tacitus (ad 98), and were there noted for the smallness of their numbers and their hardiness as fighters.¹; They appear to have been located at this time along the southern banks of the Elbe.²