This list describes the golden age of the Lombard Kingdom in Italy, from the reign of King Adaloald and the sack of Cividale to the election of King Liutprand. The main sources here are Paul the Deacon, The Frankish chronicler Fredegarius, and what can be deduced from the Edict of Rotari and similar documents. Archaeological excavation allows us to deduce that Lombard nobles were equipped superbly, both in horses and in armour quality, and generally better than their equivalents in the western kingdoms.

This army frequently defeated the Merovingians, Avars, Slav raiders, and Thematic Byzantines every time it was fully deployed. At Init 6 it is now consistent with the Avars, Merovingians, and Byzantines of its era.

Era: Triumph of Cavalry		Early Italian Lombard Kingdom 628 to 711 AD	CR: H: 4 L: 3			BP: 2	Init: 6
Core
Number	Type	Description	Key	FV	PROT	Weapon	Cost
3	HC(d)	Adalings	K	5(1)0	+1	Lances	11
2	HC(d!)	Skilpors	K	4(1)0	+1	Lances	9
3	SI	Arimanns		2(1)1	+2	Bows	2
Bonus:
5	HC(d)	Adalings	K	5(1)0	+1	Lances	11
6	HC(d!)	Skilpors	K	4(1)0	+1	Lances	9
1	HC	Avar Illustrious Men* * **	K	4(1)0	+2	Lance/bow	13
2	LC	Avars* ***	K	2(0)0	+1	Various/bows	8
1	HC	Bulgars** ***	K	4(1)0	+1	Lance/bow	12
2	LC	Bulgars** ***	K	2(0)0	+1	Various/bows	8
2	FT	Faramanns	K	5(1)1	+1	Spears	6
3	LHI	Faramanns	K	4(1)2	+1	Bows	8
2	LI	Slavs		4(1)2	+1	Javelins	7
1	SI	Slavs		3(1)2	+2	Javelins	2
3	SI	Aldii		2(1)1	+2	Bows	2

Terrain:

Core: 1 GR

Bonus: (Max: 2 ) 2 GR, 2 RG, 1 W, 2 SH (South Italy only)

Notes:

Core: 94 Bonus: 224

Armours were made in Avar style with minor Byzantine influences while stirrups were common after 600AD. Although the Lombard style of combat did not take full advantage of stirrups, their control of the horse, especially in melee, was improved thereby and this is the reason for FV x[1]x instead of FV x[0]x.

There is no more mention in the sources of undisciplined charges made by dismounted heavy cavalry and the tactic seems to have been less common. Therefore, the (!) is absent from the Nobles but is retained for the Skilpors who were less fully armoured.

(Note): An Avar Option has been introduced because several times in the VII Century the Lombard Kings asked them for help against rebel Bulgars and Lombard Dukes. Their first intervention was requested by King Agilulf to put down the rebel duke Varnecantius who had seized Pavia with his Bulgars (Varnecantius = Var-e-n-kan literally meaning "Commander above the Castle" or garrison commander).

*These Avars were allied forces aided by Slav warriors and campaigned with separate commanders. This makes it reasonable to have Avar Nobles in this list. Avars cannot be used together with Bulgars.

Adalings(Noble Arimanns) may not outnumber their dependent Skilpors (Arimanns/Aldii Squires whose equipment was, by the law, provided by those Lombards wealthy enough to afford to provide the equipment).

In the VII Century, a Bulgar raiding force defected from the Byzantines to the Lombards under King Grimoald and was settled in Molise (a southern Italian province) to help against the Bulgar's former employers.

All Lombard HC are subject to Obligatory Charge unless dismounted.

(*) If any Avars are bought, all must be bought including all of the Slav units available. If no Avars are bought, the Avar LC does not count toward the acquisition of a free light division for purchasing all of the Bonus light units under the rule on Control Ratings on p. 34 of the rules. Slavs do count for this rule. Slavs may be purchased without purchasing any Avars and vice versa.

(**) If the Bulgar noble HC unit is bought, all Bulgar units must be bought. The Bulgar noble unit represents Bulgar Dukes (duces) and illustrious men of their kind.

(***) Bulgars cannot be used with Avars. Bulgars may be used with Slavs.

Ordo Link: This list generated a great deal of controversy and a very large thread (which can be found at Early Italian Lombard during its development.

Last Edited: 24 November 2006

List Author: Ramaja