Alboin
Alboin was a trial warlord during the 6th century who let his arrogance and cruelty be his undoing. He came to power as King of the Lombards in 560. The Lombards were known for having conflicts with the Gepids and it was during his reign that Alboin wanted to squash the Gepids once and for all. He allied himself with the Avars and the Byzantine Empire in order to accomplish his goal.
In 567, the Gepids under the rule of King Cunimund attacked the Lombards. King Alboin’s alliance was able to crush the Gepids. In the battle, King Cunimund was killed (either by King Alboin or the Avar King Bayan I). King Cunimund was beheaded and from his skull was made a wine cup which King Alboin wore on his belt and drank from often.
Due to the alliance agreement with the Avars in which they would get control of Gepid lands, King Alboin now found himself threatened by the more powerful Avars. To try and get the Gepids to ally with him he married Rosamund, the daughter the King Cunimund. However, the Gepids were far to wear to offer much help and King Alboin had no choice but to move his people to Italy.
Between 569 and 572 he conquered most of Italy and set about creating a Kingdom to rule with his wife. It would be his cruelty to his wife that would be his end. He was known to abuse her and treat her poorly but the final straw came when he asked his wife to “drink happily with her father” offering her wine from the cup made from her father’s skull. From that moment she plotted his death. Working with Alboin’s foster brother Helmechis, they blackmailed the King’s bodyguard into helping them. Then one night as the King slept, Helmechis and the guard attacked King Alboin and beat him to death.