Lombardy
that part of Upper Po, having the territory of Venice on the E., and Piedmont on the W. Its history begins with the conquest by the Romans in 222, who called it Gallia Cisalpina.
After the break-up of the Roman empire it was successively in the hands of , the Ostrogoths, the Byzantine emperors, and the Lombards. Charlefrom 843 it was ruled by a separate magne incorporated it in his empire , but ended (961) it had broken up into a of kings, though before the kingdom parate line number of independent duchies and civic republics. The Lombard cities grew wealthy by industry and trade. They and successfully the attempts of the Emperors Frederick I. and They II. to curtail their liberties, forming themselves into strong leagues, which centuries that followed they came more perors in pitched battles. But they were powerful enough to rout the emthan once into conflict with the Romans. were torn by than once into conflict with the Romans. About 455 the Longobardi were settled perors in pitched battles. But they About 455 the Longobardi were settled the death (1447) of the last Duke of in Moravia, and were tributary to the Milan, whose ancestor, Count Azzo, had Herulians. The oppression of these acquired the sovereignty over nearly all masters stung them into revolt; they Lombardy in 1337, the country was made subdued the Herulians, and after them the Gepidæ, and established themselves of France and the emperor. The lastan object of contention between the King as the ruling race in Pannonia. Under named having got the better in the con- Albion, their king, they invaded Italy in test, Lombardy passed through Charles 568, and possessed themselves of the V. to Spain, which held possession of it greater part of northern and central till 1713, when the Italy, Pavia being the last city to sub- till 1713, when the duchies of Milan and Italy, Pavia being the last city to sub- Mantua came into the hands of Austria, mit. They subsequently extended their and were design power as far mit. They subsequently extended their Bene- bardy." Napoleon made it a part of the designated "Austrian Lomvento, both of which duchies were held by Cisalpine republic Lombard dukes. His second successor, Cisalpine republic, the Transpadane re- Lombard dukes. His second successor, public, and the kingdom of Italy succes- Authari, assumed the Roman title sively. But in 1815 it was restored to of Flavius, and under the influence of Austria, and annexed politically to the his queen, Theodelinda , Frankish newly-acquired Venetian territory under princess, the nation began to change the name its Arian faith for the Catholic. Kingdom. This union was dissolved in of the Lombardo-Venetian The Longobardi, though never a numerous race , were distinguished for love of the new kingdom of Italy, which divided 1859, when Lombardy was given up to war, but in Italy they became more civil- it into the provinces ized, adopted the Latin language, began it into the provinces of Bergamo, Brescia, ized, adopted the Latin language, began Como, Cremona , Mantua, Milan, Pavia, to build churches and found monasteries, and Sondrio. Pop. about and gradually became assimilated with to build churches and found monasteries, and Sondrio. Pop. about 5,000,000. and gradually became assimilated with the Italians . King Rothari in 643, and his successors, embodied the legal customs of the toms of the Lombards in a code, "Leges ." Liutprand, king from 712 to 744, made an unsuccessful attempt to subdue all Italy. His strongest opthe Pope, who summoned the Franks to his assistance. Charlemagne overthrew the Lombard dynasty, and had himself crowned King of the Franks and the Lombards; and henceforward the Lombards a were entirely merged in the Italians. No traces of their language remain. Their earliest historian whose works survive, Paul the Deacon, wrote in Latin.
Dutch, in the Indian Archipelago; be-