Alboin

Alboin, the founder of the Lombard dominion in Italy, succeeded his father in 561 A.D. as king of the Lombards, who were at that time settled in Pannonia. His thirst for action first showed itself in aiding Narses against the Ostrogoths; and afterwards, in a war with the Gepidæ, whom he, in conjunction with the Avars, defeated in a great battle (566), slaying their king Kunimond with his own hand, and marrying his daughter Rosamond. Report brought back by some of his warriors, who had accompanied Narses into Italy, determined Alboin, in 568, to invade it with his own nation of Lombards, the remains of the Gepidæ, and 20,000 Saxons. He soon overran and subdued the country as far as the Tiber, fixing his principal residence at Pavia, which long continued to be the Lombard capital; but in 574 his cruelty cost him his life. During a feast at Verona, he made his queen drink out of the skull of her father, which he had turned into a wine-cup; and she, in revenge, incited her paramour to murder him. Strangely enough, Alboin was a just and beneficent ruler. He was beloved by his subjects, whom he stimulated into that fierce energy which characterised their descendants for ages. For several centuries his name continued famous among the Teutonic nations. Rosamond fled to Longinus, the exarch, at Ravenna. Longinus becoming her suitor, she administered poison to her paramour, who, discovering the treachery, caused her to drain the cup and share his death.