The Lombards: The Ancient Longobards (The Peoples of Europe) [Paperback]

Neil Christie (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0631211977 | ISBN-13: 978-0631211976 | Publication Date: February 3, 1999 | Edition: First Paperback Edition

This book offers a survey of the history and archaeology of the Longobards (known until recently as the Lombards), one of the many barbarian tribes who exploited the collapse of the Roman Empire.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Evidence for the early movement of the Lombards (called Longobards by Christie) from Scandinavia to the middle Danube is primarily archaeological, inasmuch as later historical sources repeat largely unfounded muths about their origin and movement. Although this evidence does not provide a clear- cut picture of Lombard culture, it does offer a fairly clear picture of Lombard movement south-eastward in central Europe, until the historical record picks them up in the early sixth century in the former Roman province of Pannonia. There they established contact with the Byzantine Empire (which they served as mercenaries in the Gothic-Byzantine wars) and struggled with other barbarians (Gepids and Avars). The Lombards left Pannonia and descended into central Italy in 568; they succeeded in occupying most of northern and much of central Italy, creating a kingdom with its capital at Pavia. Christie (Univ. of Leicester) uses both archaeological and historical evidence to trace the Lombards from the Italian expedition to their conquest by Charlemagne in 774. The historical evidence relies heavily on the Lonbard chronicler Paul the Deacon, the Frankish Gregory of Tours, and on the Lombard law of codes. The archaeological evidence comes from the grave goods of Lombard cemeteries and from the remains of buildings (mainly ecclesiastical) in the Italian cities that became centers of Lombard administration. Extensive bibliography, numerous art plates, and a number of maps and diagrams." Choice

From the Back Cover

The Lombards, also known as the Longobards, were a Germanis tribe whose fabled origins lay in the barbarian realm of Scandinavia. After centuries of obscurity during the long period of Roman domination in Europe, the Lombards began a concerted migration south-eastwards, coming to prominence immediately after the fall of Rome.

Pushing across the Danube to occupy Hungary, the tribe emerged as a powerful protagonist in the former heartland of the Empire in the early sixth century AD. The Lombards subsequently invaded Italy in AD 568-9, where they successfully countered the Byzantines and established a kingdom based on the fertile north Italian plains. This endured for more than two centuries before its conquest by Charlemagne, and even after this defeat, a Lombard state continued to exist in southern Italy until the eleventh century.

In this book, the author combines many sources, archaeological and historical, to offer a fresh and vividly detailed picture of Lombard society - its people, settlements, material and spiritual culture - and its evolution from martial 'barbarian' tribe to complex urbanized state.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; First Paperback Edition edition (February 3, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631211977
• ISBN-13: 978-0631211976
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #982,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unveiling a Mystery People, August 7, 2005

By 

Curt Emanuel (Frankfort, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lombards: The Ancient Longobards (The Peoples of Europe) (Paperback)

Neil Christie has tackled one of the most difficult tasks for a historian - discussing a topic for which the archaeological record is sparse, and the written record sparser. Nevertheless, he has done a fine job of removing some of the mystery from a people who were very important in affecting the development of not only Medieval Italy, but Europe as a whole.

While this work has 7 distinct chapters, I find it more easily to review it as if it has three sections. The first provides a chronological account of the Lombards, detailing what is known of their origins in what is now Northern Germany between the Rhine and Elbe, and their subsequent migration into, and control of, Italy. While this is generally a discussion of their movement and influence he does discuss Lombard society to some extent, particularly from about 500 on.

Christie begins this section with a discussion of the sparse written sources dating from the first century C.E. and supplementing this with archaeological finds, particularly from cemeteries. Christie has a difficult time detailing the movement of the Lombards to the middle of the fifth century however at that time he confidently places them in Bohemia where they become one of the Germanic peoples that migrate southward following the dissolution of the Hunnic Empire after Attilla's death.

From this point forward the trail becomes clearer. The Lombards move to lands north of the Danube following the annihalation of the Rugi in the late fifth century. They then continue moving south into Pannonia (north-west Hungary) by the mid-520's. It is at this point that the Lombards truly become a force to be reckoned with. They come into contact with various peoples such as the Franks, Avars and the Byzantine Empire and emerge not only intact, but stronger.

The turning point for the Lombards comes when they are recruited as allies to aid Justinian in his reconquest of Italy. They aid Narses in a decisive victory over the Ostrogoths and then return home but they have been to Italy and in 568, when pressured by the Avars, their destination is clear.

The final chapter of this section details the Lombard conquest of and rule in Italy, including a great deal of information on military activity, diplomatic contacts and treaties and various internal aspects such as the relationship between the King and his nobility, internal and external threats, etc. Finally, this chapter relates the rapid fall of the Lombards following the death of King Liutprand in 744, culminating with their conquest by Charlemagne in 774.

The second section is what I was most interested in. The three chapters are titled, "Society and Economy," "Settlement and Defence," and "Religion, Architecture and Art." Here Christie provides much more insight into how the Lombards lived. He discusses their relative wealth, the status of women in society, the various societal strata, the use - similar to other Germanic tribes - of the wergild, literacy, and much more. I found it interesting that even at the height of the kingdom's power Christie found little evidence for organized defense of the kingdom but instead that Lombard castra were primarily designed to protect the local inhabitants.

While Christie constantly decries the lack of sources for the Lombards and how little archaeological work has been done in Italy for the period, he nevertheless does provide something of a "feel" for how the Lombards lived. It is unfortunate that more details of Lombard life are not available however Christie believes that these will be forthcoming as archaeologists are increasingly beginning to examine the period of Lombard rule in Italy.

The final, and weakest portion of the work, in my opinion, covers the lasting impact of the Lombards. Christie discusses the principality of Benevento at some length which is fine but other than that most of what he covers consists of some words and place-names. I would have preferred that he at the very least discuss how the Lombard rule of Italy contributed to the growth of city-states rather than the nation-states which predominated the rest of Europe during the Medieval Period.

There are some weaknesses in this book. Christie's use of "Longobards" through the text despite the title is a minor quibble and easily dismissed. However I was somewhat disappointed in a couple of areas. I felt there was little attention given to trade while the Lombards were in Italy. While Christie does discuss the presence of coins and goods in various location, he makes no mention of a single trade agreement. Perhaps there were none - even in Byzantine sources - over a two hundred year period, however I find that unlikely. I would also have preferred more specific examples on any number of topics. Quotes from law codes, or specific examples of punishments would have been useful during the discussion on the legal system. Perhaps more details could have been given on charters establishing Churches or monasteries.

Nevertheless, I would recommend this work to anyone seeking to learn more about the history of Early Medieval Italy. Christie writes well, the narrative is interesting, and the work is well footnoted. I would recommend that anyone purchasing this also consider picking up a copy of Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards. For much of the period discussed his is virtually the only reference that even approaches a primary source and Christie (as he must) utilizes it extensively.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First-rate introduction to the subject, March 12, 2009

By 

Michael K. Smith (South Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Lombards: The Ancient Longobards (The Peoples of Europe) (Paperback)

The Lombards (whom Christie insists on calling "Longobards" for obscure reasons) are up with the Huns and the Vandals in terms of largely unwarranted bad press -- but they're also second only to the Franks in their long-term success. The author is a recognized expert in medieval Italy, especially its archaeology, and this study, organized both chronologically and thematically, is of a high standard. He traces the Lombards from their hazy origins to their sojourn in trans-Danube Pannonia, through their carefully considered invasion of northern Italy and their consolidation of power there. Along the way, he discusses the Lombard legal system, their trade and economics, and the roles of religion and the arts, and he ends with a consideration of the Lombard heritage in Italy. A very good entry in a very useful series.