Byzantine–Lombard wars

The Byzantine–Lombard wars were a protracted series of conflicts which occurred from AD 568 to 751. The wars were fought between the Byzantine Empire, and a Germanic tribe known as the Lombards. The wars were fought primarily due to the imperialistic inclinations of the Lombard king, Alboin, as he sought to take possession of Northern Italy. The conflicts ended in a Byzantine defeat, as the Lombards were able to secure large parts of Northern Italy at first, eventually conquering the Exarchate of Ravenna in 751.

Invasion of Northern Italy
The Lombards began the invasion of Northern Italy on Easter Monday, 568. This was to ensure that the migrations were to be undertaken through the guidance of the Arian version of Christianity, the religion of which the Lombards had only recently began to adopt. The Lombards migrated into Italy whilst fighting meagre resistance from the Byzantine border forces, troops which were known as the Milities Limitanei, which were remnants from the Imperial Roman military organisation. The Lombards managed to annex Northern Italy quickly, with the small town of Cividale del Friuli being the first to be captured. The town was then established as the capital of the Duchy of Friuli, with Alboin's nephew Gisulf reigning as its first Duke. Following the immediate success of the invasion of Northern Italy and the capture of Friuli, the Lombards then began to turn eastwards towards Venice. The army then captured Aquileia, before undertaking acts of destruction against the population of the city, leading many civilians to migrate to other areas.