List of kings of the Lombards

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 774, the kings were not Lombards, but Franks. 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 Iron Crown of Lombardy, displayed in the Cathedral of Monza

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 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

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Legendary rulers

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  • Shava
  • Ybor and Agio, brothers, together with their mother Gambara, who led the emigration from Scandinavia
  • Agilmund, son of Agio
  • Laiamicho (Lamissio)
  • Ortnit

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 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 (510–539), son of Unichus
  • Walthari (539–546), son of Wacho

Kings in Italy

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Unnamed dynasty

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Rule of the Dukes (Ten year interregnum)
  • Authari (584–590), son of previous
  • Agilulf (591–c. 616), cousin of previous

Non-dynastic king

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Bavarian dynasty, First Restoration

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Bavarian dynasty, Second Restoration

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Non-dynastic kings

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Charlemagne conquered the Lombards in 774 at the invitation of Pope Adrian I.

  • Charlemagne (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,[1] but subsequent holders are found at King of Italy.

Family tree

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Family tree of Lombards Kings

The colors denotes the monarchs from the Houses of:

  - Lething dynasty

  - Gausian dynasty

  - Unnamed dynasty

  - Bavarian dynasty

  - Non-dynastic king

  - Harodingians

  - Beneventan dynasty

  - Carolingian dynasty

  - Ruler of the Kingdom of Lombards (Regnum Langobardorum / Regnum totius Italiae)


Lethuc
Aldihoc
Godehoc
Claffo
Tato
died 510
Unichus
Wacho
r. 510-539
Austrigusa
of the Gepids
fl. 531
Audoin
r. 545-565
 
Cleph
?-572-574
Walthari
539-546
Garibald I
of Bavaria

540-591
Waldrada
of Neustria

531-572
Theudebald of AustrasiaGrasulf I
of Friuli

died 571
 
Alboin
530-565-572
 
Authari
540-84-90
Theodelinda
of Bavaria

570-628
 
Agilulf
555-590-616
Gundoald
Duke of Asti

565-616
Gisulf I
of Friuli

died 590
Tassilo I
of Bavaria

560-610
 
Rothari
606-636-652
Gundeberga
born 591
 
Arioald
?-626-636
 
Adaloald
602-616-
626-628
 
Aripert I
?-653-661
Romilda
of Friuli

died 611
Gisulf II
of Friuli

died 611
Garibald II
of Bavaria

585-625
 
Rodoald
637-652-653
Rodelinda 
Perctarit
?-661-662-
671-688
 
Godepert
?-661-662
Theodota(?) 
Grimoald
610-662-671
Gella
of Friuli
Theodo V
of Bavaria

625-716
 
Alahis
r. 689
 
Cunipert
r. 688-689,
689-700
 
Raginpert
r. 701
 
Ansprand
657-712-712
 
Garibald
r. 671
Gotfrid
of Alemannia

died 709
daughter,
name unknown
 
Liutpert
r. 700-
701, 702
 
Aripert II
r. 701-702,
702-712
Pemmo
of Friuli

died 739
Ritpurgasibling,
name unknown
 
Liutprand
r. 712-744
Odilo
of Bavaria

died 748
 
Ratchis
r. 744-749
 
Aistulf
?-749-756
 
Hildeprand
r. 735-744
 
Desiderius
?-756-774-786
Hildegard
754-783
 
Charles
the Great

748-778-814
Desiderata
fl. 770
Liutperga
fl. 763
Tassilo III
of Bavaria

741-796
kings of
Italy

Notes

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  1. ^ "German Tribes org Lombard Kings". GermanTribes.org. Archived from the original on 2010-07-18. Retrieved 2010-07-18.

Sources

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