CUNIMUND THE GEPID
THE TALE OF THE FALL OF THE GEPIDS and the DEATH OF ALBOIN, KING OF THE LOBARDS
A classic tale of the middle ages, told throughout western europe, notably in the courts of Charlemagne, where bards kept the old tales alive.  573 died.  His tale is wreathed in legend, like that of Roland in “the song of Roland” and other epic tales.  Tragic tales often seemed to find a place in the people’s heart – they probably wouldn’t have liked Bambi…well, maybe the part where Bambi’s mother died, and the forest burned down and stuff, or if Thumper had killed Bambi or something.  

Alboin won fame with the Lombards when he bested the neighboring prince of the Gepids in arms on the field of combat.  The people wished him to join in the feast of victory, but according to Lombard tradition, he could only enter such place of honor after receiving his arms from a foreign king.  So, Alboin with 40 companions boldly went to Turisund, king of the Gepids and father of the slain prince.  He was invited to a meal and sat in the deceased son’s accustomed place.  The father could not help but speak out  in agony and frustration, seeing an enemy in his beloved son’s place.

"How dear is that place! how hateful is that person!" were the words that escaped, with a sigh, from the mournfull father. His grief exasperated the national resentment of the Gepidae; and Cunimund, his surviving son, was provoked by wine, or fraternal affection, to the desire of vengeance. "The Lombards," said the rude Barbarian, "resemble, in figure and in smell, the mares of our Sarmatian plains." And this insult was a coarse allusion to the white bands which enveloped their legs. "Add another resemblance," replied an audacious Lombard; "you have felt how strongly they kick. Visit the plain of Asfield, and seek for the bones of thy brother: they are mingled with those of the vilest animals."

With this comment, the hall nearly erupted in violence
Cunimund, kings second son is ready to spill their blood -
and it was only by the old king’s great honor that blood was averted.  He gave the Lombard the arms of his son and sent him on his way. 

Alboin must have seen cunimund’s daughter, Rosamund at this feast, for he afterwards sought her love with all his being, but she would not have him. 
He sought war, but the Gepids were backed by the Byzantines, and he could not withstand them and backed away, licking wounds and plotting how to get his revenge and the body of his “love”.  The Gepids, as he saw them now, were no longer part of the Barbarian kinship, for they had sold their pride to the aid of the Romans, and were thus his eternal enemies. 
Alboin’s vengeance was found in the people of the Avars – those fierce horsemen of the plains not unlike the ferocious Huns.

The Avars heard Alboin’s messengers impassively.  They didn’t need the Lombards.  At length, however, their chieftan stood and made his declaration to the messenger.  They would come, if the Lombards gave them all the conquered territory, and a share of the wealth and prisoners.  Alboin was delighted.
The two armies made a pronged attack, the Avars coming from above, and the Lombards from the west.  The Gepids, full of pride and trust in the valor of their arms, considered it no problem to defeat the army of the Lombards, and then to turn and deal with the Avars next, with the blood of their first enemy still hot on their blades.  The Gepids rushed out to meed the invaders – and were slaughtered.  Cunimund himself was slain, and as according to barbarian custom, his head was taken and the skull fashioned into a drinking goblet – a grisly token of victory. 
The population of Gepids was divided up and absorbed into the Lombards –  who viewed them as valiant vanquished enemies and assimilated them.  Rosamund was “wooed” by Alboin and  consented at last to wed him.  How could she blame someone, even with destroying her kingdom and family, in his relentless pursuit of her love?  I don’t know. 

AND THEN….
15 years after troops entered Italy with Narses, Alboin prepared to conquest into the fertile valleys of the Romans.  He tantalized his troops with baskets of fruit and grains taken from the Po and Tiber valleys.  This was a grand adventure, and the adventurous flower of German youth followed Alboin’s banner.  It is said 20,000 saxons joined their numbers, as well as many from Norricum, Pannonia, Sarmatia, Bulgaria, Geipidae.

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