Alboin, king of the Lombards, entered Italy for the purpose of founding
a state. Pavia alone ventured to oppose him. The new conqueror laid
siege to it; and that city, after a vigorous resistance of three years,
reduced to the last extremity, was forced to surrender at discretion.
The conqueror, exasperated by the obstinacy of the defence, had
resolved to put all the inhabitants to the sword, but their submission
disarmed his vengeance. He entered Pavia, not as a conqueror, but as
a pacific king; forbade murder, violation, or pillage, and made that
important place the capital of his new empire.