The lombard rose

the lombard rose is based on true historical events. the story evolves while europe is in the throes of the deepest dark ages, at a time when wild barbarian tribes freely roam the continent. rosamond, a gepid princess, finds herself swept in the maelstrom of clashing chieftains driven by an ancient hatred. she loses her family and her nation is destroyed. a cruel fate condemns her to marry her father’s assassin, alboin, king of the lombards, and she has to endure untold humiliations. eventually, the tide of history takes her from the hungarian steppes she loves to the heart of the old roman empire. alboin’s hordes invade italy and begin wrenching the country from the hands of the byzantines. in the new land she tragically falls in love with helmich, the king’s protégé, and dreams of happiness and freedom. pushed on edge by one last hideous humiliation contrived by her husband, and after a rich series of intrigues, she makes the ultimate choice.