This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this articlebyadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Cleph" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Cleph[1] (also Clef, Clepho, or Kleph) was king of the Lombards from 572 to 574.
| Cleph | |
|---|---|
| King of the Lombards | |
| Reign | 572 - 574 |
| Predecessor | Alboin |
| Successor | Authari (after 10 years of regency) |
| Died | 574 |
| Issue | Authari two daughters |
He succeeded Alboin, to whom he was not related by blood. He was a violent and terrifying figure to the Romans and Byzantines struggling to maintain control of the Italian Peninsula. He extended Lombard dominion over all of Northern Italy, finishing the conquest of Tuscany and bringing Lombard authority to the gates of Ravenna. He was assassinated after an 18-month reign by a young guard, a slave whom he had mistreated. His death was followed by a 10-year interregnum, known as the Rule of the Dukes because the territorial dukes were supreme. His son, Authari, eventually took the throne in 585.[2] He was buried in the Church of Santi Gervasio e ProtasioinPavia.[3]
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of the Lombards 572–574 |
Vacant
Title next held by Authari |
 | This biography of a member of a European royal house is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This biography of an Italian noble is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |