DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63447#0064
48
THE HISTORICAL PAST OF ITALY.
adorned after the fashion of their prototypes at Constan-
tinople. Some remains of these may be seen even now,
and make those which are lost even more deplored.
It was from Ravenna that Italian art afterwards seemed
to radiate, as from a central focus.
The Gothic tribe of the Longobards, or Lombards, next
appeared on the scene. The name of this remarkable
people, the only barbaric race which has permanently
and visibly affected the material condition of Italy, is
disputed. By some it is ascribed to their habit of
shaving or cutting close the hair of the head, contrary to
the usual custom of Barbarians (amongst whom long and
flowing locks were a sign of freedom), and leaving the
beard to grow to the waist ; by others, to the long-
handled axe, or bart, their habitual weapon, and a novel
and terrible one in the Peninsula. The first onslaught
of the Lombards was terrific; they nearly devastated
Northern and part of Central Italy, and selected Pavia as
their capital.
Alboin, their king, parcelled out the country they had
conquered amongst his principal officers. He began to
establish the feudal system, granting the title of duke to
the chief of every considerable city or province.
At first the supremacy of these chiefs or nobles was
confined to the lifetime of the holder, but favour, time,
and custom soon made it hereditary. Together with the
possession of irresponsible power, the victors entertained
the deepest contempt for the vanquished. “ We Lom-
bards,” says Bishop Luitprand (himself a mild and
equitable man), “ know of no more appropriate epithet
with which to brand our enemies than to call them
Romans, as in that term are included all vices and every
worst trait of human nature, such as avarice, lying, in-
continence, and every other evil act.1 We may imagine
the treatment the vanquished were likely to receive from
conquerors who held them in such estimation.
Under one form or another, complete tyranny ruled at
this time in Italy. Those portions of the country subject
1 Luitprand, in Degat. Muratori, lib. ii., part i., p. 481.
THE HISTORICAL PAST OF ITALY.
adorned after the fashion of their prototypes at Constan-
tinople. Some remains of these may be seen even now,
and make those which are lost even more deplored.
It was from Ravenna that Italian art afterwards seemed
to radiate, as from a central focus.
The Gothic tribe of the Longobards, or Lombards, next
appeared on the scene. The name of this remarkable
people, the only barbaric race which has permanently
and visibly affected the material condition of Italy, is
disputed. By some it is ascribed to their habit of
shaving or cutting close the hair of the head, contrary to
the usual custom of Barbarians (amongst whom long and
flowing locks were a sign of freedom), and leaving the
beard to grow to the waist ; by others, to the long-
handled axe, or bart, their habitual weapon, and a novel
and terrible one in the Peninsula. The first onslaught
of the Lombards was terrific; they nearly devastated
Northern and part of Central Italy, and selected Pavia as
their capital.
Alboin, their king, parcelled out the country they had
conquered amongst his principal officers. He began to
establish the feudal system, granting the title of duke to
the chief of every considerable city or province.
At first the supremacy of these chiefs or nobles was
confined to the lifetime of the holder, but favour, time,
and custom soon made it hereditary. Together with the
possession of irresponsible power, the victors entertained
the deepest contempt for the vanquished. “ We Lom-
bards,” says Bishop Luitprand (himself a mild and
equitable man), “ know of no more appropriate epithet
with which to brand our enemies than to call them
Romans, as in that term are included all vices and every
worst trait of human nature, such as avarice, lying, in-
continence, and every other evil act.1 We may imagine
the treatment the vanquished were likely to receive from
conquerors who held them in such estimation.
Under one form or another, complete tyranny ruled at
this time in Italy. Those portions of the country subject
1 Luitprand, in Degat. Muratori, lib. ii., part i., p. 481.