i. List of Abbreviations ii. List of Figures, Tables & Maps iii. Acknowledgements 1. Introduction: The Long Shadow of Paul the Deacon 2. 'Vir Valde Peritus': Paul the Deacon and his Contexts 3. The Early Narratives: a) 'Ita Romanorum apud Romam imperium=cum hoc Augustulo periit': the Historia Romana b) 'Beatissimus Pontifex': the Vita Sancti Gregorii Magni c) 'Sancte et Venerabilis Mettensium Urbis': Gesta Episcoporum Mettensium 4. The Historia Langobardorum: The Structure of Paul's World: a) Transmission and Textual Histories of the Historia Langobardorum b) The Structure of the Historia Langobardorum c) Paul's Use of Sources 5. The Historia Langobardorum: The Six Books in Detail a) Book i: 'The Men of Old tell a Silly Story' b) Book ii: 'The World brought back to its Ancient Silence c) Book iii: 'Authari is wont to strike such a blow' d) Book iv: 'Miserorum Rusticorum Sanguis' e) Book v: 'Rebellio et Iniquitatis' f) Book vi: 'Nutritor Gentis' 6. Conclusions i. Appendices ii. Bibliography iii. Index