Neustria (Italy)

Neustria was, according to the early medieval geographical classification, the western portion of Langobardia Major, the north-central part of the Lombard Kingdom, extended from the Adda (river) to the Western Alps and opposed to Austria. The bipartition, emerged during the 7th century, was not only in territorial area, but also implies significant cultural and political differences.

Territory

The Neustria included the duchies of the north-western Lombard Kingdom, among them a prominent role was played by

• Duchy of Pavia (home of the Lombard royal court)
• Duchy of Asti
• Duchy of Turin

History

The duchies of Neustria were long the most loyal to the Bavarian dynasty, accepting both the pro-Catholic inspiration and the consequent policy of appeasement of Italy, without further attempts to expand against the Byzantines and the pope. In the 8th century, however, the widespread conversion of the Lombards to Catholicism smoothed the opposition between Austria and Neustria, thanks to a revived expansion at the expense of the Byzantine Empire with the Catholic and Neustrian Liutprand (king from 712).

After the fall of the Lombard kingdom in 774, the Langobardia Maior fell entirely under the dominion of the Franks. Its political-administrative structure was not disrupted, however, instead of the dukes, Frank but also Lombard counts were settled.

References

Bibliography

See also

• Langobardia Major
• Langobardia Minor
• Austria (Lombard)
• Lombard Kingdom