The German Invasions 325 ^he ^'andal kingdom in northern Africa in 534, but it was a more difficult task to destroy the Gothic rule in Itaty. How- ever, in spite of a brave resistance, the Goths were so com- pletely defeated in 553 that they agreed to leave Italy with all their movable possessions. What became of the remnants of the race we do not know. The destruction of the Gothic kingdom was a disaster for The Lom- Italy, for the Goths would have helped defend it against later illy ^^'^"P^ and far more barbarous invaders. Immediately after the death of Justinian the country was overrun by the Lombards, the last of the great German peoples to establish themselves within the bounds of the former Empire. They were a savage race, a considerable part of which was still pagan. The newcomers first occupied the region north of the Po, which has ever since been called " Lombardy " after them, and then extended their conquests southward. Instead of settling themselves with the moderation and wise statesmanship of the East Goths, the Lombards moved about the peninsula pillaging and massacring. Such of the inhabitants as could, fled to the islands off the coast. The Lombards were unable, however, to conquer all of Italy. Rome, Ravenna, and southern Italy continued to be held by the emperors who succeeded Justinian at Constantinople. As time went on, the Lombards lost their wildness and adopted the habits and religion of the people among whom they lived. Their kingdom lasted over two hundred years, until it was conquered by Charlemagne (see below, p. 374). Section 52. Kingdom of the Franks s : The various kingdoms established by the German chieftains The Frank were not very permanent, as we have seen. The Franks, how- tancVand°' ever, succeeded in conquering more territory than any other Jjj^^lo^"^^^^^^^^ people and in founding an empire far more important than the kingdoms of the West and East Goths, the Vandals, or the Lombards. We must now see how this was accomplished.
