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The Lombards were a West [[Germanic tribe]]. They were a warlike people, skilled horsemen, more barbaric than say the [[Ostrogoths]].  Their name derives from 'Langobard' = literally 'long beard'.  They crossed the Alps in the 6th century AD into Northern [[Italy]], which region is still named Lombardy after them.  Their ruler at this time was Alboin (whose name means 'Elf-friend'), and who overthrew Cunimund, his wife Rosamund's father. He allegedly made a drinking-cup out of his father-in-law's skull, with jewels in the eye-sockets.  This kind of cup was called a 'scala' ('skull') in the Langobardic language.  This West Germanic language was eventually replaced by Italian in their territories as the lombard rulers were outnumbered by the Italian-speaking populace.  The [[Papacy]] was fearful of Lombard power, and saw the poewerful [[Franks]] as their means to control them, so that Lombardy was added to [[Charlemagne]]'s Empire.   

The Lombards were a West [[Germanic tribe]]. They were a warlike people, skilled horsemen, more barbaric than say the [[Ostrogoths]].  Their name derives from 'Langobard' = literally 'long beard'.  They crossed the Alps in the 6th century AD into Northern [[Italy]], which region is still named Lombardy after them.  Their ruler at this time was Alboin (whose name means 'Elf-friend'), and who overthrew Cunimund, his wife Rosamund's father. He allegedly made a drinking-cup out of his father-in-law's skull, with jewels in the eye-sockets.  This kind of cup was called a 'scala' ('skull') in the Langobardic language.  This West Germanic language was eventually replaced by [[Italian]] in their territories as the Lombard rulers were outnumbered by the Italian-speaking populace.  The [[Papacy]] was fearful of Lombard power, and saw the poewerful [[Franks]] as their means to control them, so that Lombardy was added to [[Charlemagne]]'s Empire.   

Several Nothern Italian cities formed the 'Lombard league' in the Middle Ages, and the north of Italy is still culturally and politically different from the south.

Several Nothern Italian cities formed the 'Lombard league' in the Middle Ages, and the north of Italy is still culturally and politically different from the south.