A Queen who Drank from a Cup Made of a Human Skull

The successors of Theodoric in the Gothic Kingdom of Italy were seven in number.

After the death of the last of the seven, the Goths were subdued by Narses, who administered the government as duke until A.D. 567. He was recalled by the emperor Justin II.; and, to avenge this insult, he invited Alboin, king of the Lombards, into Italy.

Alboin penetrated into Italy, and was proclaimed king in 568.

In single combat he killed Cunimund, king of the Gepidae, a German tribe, and forced Rosamond, the daughter of the murdered king, to become his wife.

He then had a wine-cup made of the skull of Cunimund, out of which he compelled the queen to drink.

The beautiful Rosamond dissembled her indignant feelings, but, waiting her opportunity, appealed to two officers for revenge, who, being admitted by her to the king's apartment, assassinated him as he lay asleep.

According to agreement, Rosamond fled with one of the assassins, Helmichis, to Ravenna.

Afterward, to free herself from the power of Helmichis, she gave him a cup of poison to drink; but he, detecting her treachery, drank half of it, and compelled her to drink the other half, so that they died together.