The Lombard invasion, 568, like the Hun invasion of little more than 100 years earlier, sent an influx of refugees streaming to the islands of the Venetian lagoon for sanctuary.

Unlike the Huns, however, the Lombards had come to stay, establishing an Italian kingdom based in Pavia in north central Italy. As a result, with their mainland settlements permanently occupied by the invaders, more of the refugees elected to stay as permanent residents of the lagoon.