AL'BOIN, the founder of the Lombard dominion in Italy, succeeded his father in 561 A.D., as king of the Lombards, who were at that time settled in Pannonia. His thirst for action first vented itself in aiding Narses against the Ostrogoths; and afterwards, in a war with the Gepidx, whom he, in conjunction with the Avari, defeated in a great battle (566), slaying their. king Cunimond with his own hand. On the death of his first wife, Klodoswinda, he married Rosamond, daughter of Cunimond, who was his prisoner. Some of his warriors, who had accompanied Narses into Italy, brought back reports of the beauties and riches of the country. This determined A., in 568, to enter Italy with his own nation of Lombards, the remains of the Gepidm, and 20,000 Saxons. He soon overran and subdued the n. of the country as far as the Tiber, fixing his principal resi dence at Pavia—which long continued to be the capital of the Lombards ; when his bar barity cost him his life. During a feast at Verona, he made his queen drink out of the
skull of her father, which he had converted into a wine-cup. In revenge, she incited her paramour to murder her husband, who fell 574. Strangely enough, A. was a just and beneficial ruler. He was beloved by his subjects, whom he stimulated into that vital activity that characterized their descendants for ages. For several centuries, his name continued to be illustrious among the German nations, who celebrated his praises in mar tial songs. To escape the fury of the Lombards, Rosamond fled with her associate and the treasure to Longinus, the exarch, at Ravenna. Longinus becoming a suitor for her hand, she administered poison to Helmichis, her paramour, who, discovering the treach ery, caused her to swallow the remainder of the cup, and die with him.