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reigned in Italy； he brought the country to such a state of greatness
that her previous sufferings were no longer recognizable。 But at his
death； the kingdom descending to Atalaric； son of Amalasontha； his
daughter； and the malice of fortune not being yet exhausted； the old
evils soon returned； for Atalaric died soon after his grandfather； and
the kingdom coming into the possession of his mother； she was betrayed
by Theodatus； whom she had called to assist her in the government。 He
put her to death and made himself king； and having thus become odious
to the Ostrogoths； the emperor Justinian entertained the hope of
driving him out of Italy。 Justinian appointed Belisarius to the
command of this expedition； as he had already conquered Africa；
expelled the Vandals； and reduced the country to the imperial rule。
Belisarius took possession of Sicily； and from thence passing into
Italy； occupied Naples and Rome。 The Goths； seeing this； slew
Theodatus their king； whom they considered the cause of their
misfortune； and elected Vitiges in his stead； who； after some
skirmishes； was besieged and taken by Belisarius at Ravenna； but
before he had time to secure the advantages of his victory； Belisarius
was recalled by Justinian； and Joannes and Vitalis were appointed in
his place。 Their principles and practices were so different from those
of Belisarius； that the Goths took courage and created Ildovadus；
governor of Verona； their king。 After Ildovadus； who was slain； came
Totila； who routed the imperial forces； took Tuscany and Naples； and
recovered nearly the whole of what Belisarius had taken from them。 On
this account Justinian determined to send him into Italy again； but；
coming with only a small force； he lost the reputation which his
former victories had won for him； in less time than he had taken to
acquire it。 Totila being at Ostia with his forces； took Rome before
his eyes； but being unable to hold or to leave the city； he destroyed
the greater part of it； drove out the citizens； and took the senators
away from him。 Thinking little of Belisarius； he led his people into
Calabria； to attack the forces which had been sent from Greece。
Belisarius； seeing the city abandoned； turned his mind to the
performance of an honourable work。 Viewing the ruins of Rome； he
determined to rebuild her walls and recall her inhabitants with as
little delay as possible。 But fortune was opposed to this laudable
enterprise； for Justinian； being at this time assailed by the
Parthians； recalled him； and his duty to his sovereign compelled him
to abandon Italy to Totila； who again took Rome； but did not treat her
with such severity as upon the former occasion； for at the entreaty of
St。 Benedict； who in those days had great reputation for sanctity； he
endeavored to restore her。 In the meantime； Justinian having arranged
matters with the Parthians； again thought of sending a force to the
relief of Italy； but the Sclavi； another northern people； having
crossed the Danube and attacked Illyria and Thrace； prevented him； so
that Totila held almost the whole country。 Having conquered the
Slavonians； Justinian sent Narses； a eunuch； a man of great military
talent； who； having arrived in Italy； routed and slew Totila。 The
Goths who escaped sought refuge in Pavia； where they created Teias
their king。 On the other hand； Narses after the victory took Rome； and
coming to an engagement with Teias near Nocera； slew him and routed
his army。 By this victory； the power of the Goths in Italy was quite
annihilated； after having existed for seventy years； from the coming
of Theodoric to the death of Teias。
No sooner was Italy delivered from the Goths than Justinian died； and
was succeeded by Justin； his son； who； at the instigation of Sophia；
his wife； recalled Narses； and sent Longinus in his stead。 Like those
who preceded him； he made his abode at Ravenna； and besides this； gave
a new form to the government of Italy； for he did not appoint
governors of provinces； as the Goths had done； but in every city and
town of importance placed a ruler whom he called a duke。 Neither in
this arrangement did he respect Rome more than the other cities； for
having set aside the consuls and senate； names which up to this time
had been preserved； he placed her under a duke； who was sent every
year from Ravenna； and called her the duchy of Rome； while to him who
remained in Ravenna； and governed the whole of Italy for the emperor；
was given the name of Exarch。 This division of the country greatly
facilitated the ruin of Italy； and gave the Lombards an early occasion
of occupying it。 Narses was greatly enraged with the emperor； for
having recalled him from the government of the province； which he had
won with his own valor and blood； while Sophia； not content with the
injury done by withdrawing him； treated him in the most offensive
manner； saying she wished him to come back that he might spin with the
other eunuchs。 Full of indignation； Narses persuaded Alboin； king of
the Lombards； who then reigned in Pannonia； to invade and take
possession of Italy。
The Lombards； as was said before； occupied those places upon the
Danube which had been vacated by the Eruli and Turingi； when Odoacer
their king led them into Italy； where； having been established for
some time； their dominions were held by Alboin； a man ferocious and
bold； under whom they crossed the Danube； and coming to an engagement
with Cunimund； king of the Zepidi； who held Pannonia； conquered and
slew him。 Alboin finding Rosamond； daughter of Cunimund； among the
captives； took her to wife； and made himself sovereign of Pannonia；
and； moved by his savage nature； caused the skull of Cunimund to be
formed into a cup； from which； in memory of the victory； he drank。
Being invited into Italy by Narses； with whom he had been in
friendship during the war with the Goths； he left Pannonia to the
Huns； who after the death of Attila had returned to their country。
Finding； on his arrival； the province divided into so many parts； he
presently occupied Pavia； Milan； Verona； Vicenza； the whole of
Tuscany； and the greater part of Flamminia； which is now called
Romagna。 These great and rapid acquisitions made him think the
conquest of Italy already secured； he therefore gave a great feast at
Verona； and having become elevated with wine； ordered the skull of
Cunimund to be filled； and caused it to be presented to the queen
Rosamond； who sat opposite； saying loud enough for her to hear； that
upon occasion of such great joy she should drink with her father。
These words were like a dagger to the lady's bosom and she resolved to
have revenge。 Knowing that Helmichis； a noble Lombard； was in love
with one of her maids； she arranged with the young woman； that
Helmichis； without being acquainted with the fact； should sleep with
her instead of his mistress。 Having effected her design； Rosamond
discovered herself to Helmichis； and gave him the choice either of
killing Alboin； and taking herself and the kingdom as his reward； or
of being put to death as the ravisher of the queen。 Helmichis
consented to destroy Alboin； but after the murder； finding they could
not occupy the kingdom； and fearful that the Lombards would put them
to death for the love they bore to Alboin； they seized the royal
treasure； and fled with it to Longinus； at Ravenna； who received them
favorably。
During these troubles the emperor Justinus died； and was succeeded by
Tiberius； who； occupied in the wars with the Parthians； could not
attend to the affairs of Italy； and this seeming to Longinus to
present an opportunity； by means of Rosamond and her wealth； of
becoming king of the Lombards and of the whole of Italy； he
communicated his design to her； persuaded her to destroy Helmichis；
and so take him for her husband。 To this end； having prepared poisoned
wine； she with her own hand presented it to Helmichis； who complained
of thirst as he came from the bath。 Having drunk half of it； he
suspected the truth； from the unusual sensation it occasioned and
compelled her to drink the remainder； so that in a few hours both came
to their end； and Longinus was deprived of the hope of becoming king。
In the meantime the Lombards； having drawn themselves together in
Pavia； which was become the principal seat of their empire； made
Clefis their king。 He rebuilt Imola； destroyed by Narses； and occupied
Remini and almost every place up to Rome； but he died in the course of
his victories。 Clefis was cruel to such a degree； not only toward
strangers； but to his own Lombards； that these people； sickened of
royal power； did not create another king； but appointed among
themselves thirty dukes to govern the rest。 This prevented the
Lombards from occupying the whole of Italy； or of extending their
dominion further than Benevento； for； of the cities of Rome； Ravenna；
Cremona； Mantua； Padua； Monselice； Parma； Bologna； Faenz