Lombardy before the Lombard League

This chapter describes Lombardy before the Lombard League. The first section cites the different definitions attached to the term ‘Lombardy’. The multiple definitions attached to it could easily create misunderstanding. In order to avoid this, the Po Valley as a whole was sometimes defined as tota Langobardia (whole Lombardy). Primary sources, including some documentary ones produced by the League itself, often simply define the latter as ‘Lombard League’ or ‘the Lombards’. The second section describes the fortunes of the Kingdom of Italy and the rise of the city communes. The last section describes the revival of the imperial authority under Frederick Barbarossa.