Cleph

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Cleph (also Clef, Clepho, or Kleph; in Italian, Clefi) was king of the Lombards from 572 or 573 to 574 or 575.

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 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 ten year interregnum, known as the "Rule of the Dukes" because the territorial dukes were supreme. His son, Authari, eventually took the throne in 585.

Regnal titles
Preceded by Alboin	King of the Lombards 572 – 574	Succeeded by Rule of the Dukes

v • d • e Kings of the Lombards between 565 and 963 Lombards Alboin (565–572) · Cleph (572–574) · Interregnum (574–584) · Authari (584–590) · Agilulf (590–616) · Adaloald (616–626) · Arioald (626–636) · Rothari (636-652) · Rodoald (652–653) · Aripert I (653–661) · Godepert (661–662) · Perctarit (661–662) · Grimoald (662–671) · Garibald (671) · Perctarit (671–688) · Cunipert (688–689) · Alahis (689) · Cunipert (689–700) · Liutpert (700–702) · Raginpert (702) · Aripert II (702–712) · Ansprand (712) · Liutprand (712–744) · Hildeprand (744) · Ratchis (744–749) · Aistulf (749–756) · Desiderius (756–774) Carolingians Charles I (774–814) · Pepin (781–810) · Bernard (810–818) · Lothair I (818–855) · Louis I (855–875) · Charles II (875–877) · Carloman (877–879) · Charles III (879–887) · Arnulf (896–899) · Ratold (896) Non-dynastic (title disputed 887–933) Unruochings: Berengar I (887–924) · Guideschi: Guy (889–894) · Lambert (891–897) · Welfs: Rudolph (922–933) · Bosonids: Louis II (900–905) · Hugh (926–947) · Lothair II (945–950) · Anscarids: Berengar II (950–963) · Adalbert (950–963)