Alboin (530s–572) was king of the Lombards from about 560 until 572, and led the first Lombard invasion of Italy in 568.
Why did the Lombards decide to invade Byzantine Italy in 568? A popular story was the Byzantine general Narses, who had just retaken Italy for the empire, invited them. Was Narses a traitor to the empire?
The Lombard invasion of Byzantine Italy in 568 was a pivotal event in Venetian history, as it kicked off the movement towards a distinct Venetian society, culture and, ultimately, state.
A royal marriage and its tragic end, between Alboin, king of the Lombards, and Rosamund, a Gepid princess.
The “Historia Langobardorum” is the oldest chronicle relevant to the history of Venice. It probably dates to the 780s or 790s.
This document is the earliest description of the translation of St Mark to Venice in 827–828, and also of early Venice. This is a translation by René Seindal.
In late Antiquity the north-east of the Italian peninsula suffered many invasions. The wars caused people to move to the safer lagoon areas, and hence to the foundation of Venice.
