Rothari vs Uthman

Rothari became king of the Lombards after the death of King Arioald. He was a member of the Arodus dynasty and his reign marked a period of consolidation and legal reform for the Lombard Kingdom in Italy.

Rothari led military campaigns against Byzantine forces in the Po Valley, capturing several cities including Oderzo and Altino. These victories consolidated Lombard control over northern Italy and reduced Byzantine influence to the coastal areas of Ravenna and Venice.

Rothari conquered the Byzantine-held region of Liguria, including the city of Genoa. This expansion extended Lombard control over the northwestern coast of Italy and further weakened Byzantine power in the peninsula.

Rothari issued the Edict of Rothari, a written code of Lombard law. It was the first codification of Germanic customary law in Italy, written in Latin and covering criminal, civil, and family matters. The Edict helped unify the Lombard tribes and established a legal framework for the kingdom.

Some later sources claim Rothari converted to Catholicism, but this is disputed. He was originally an Arian Christian, and his Edict shows no clear shift in religious policy. The conversion of the Lombards to Catholicism occurred more fully under later kings.

Uthman ibn Affan became the third caliph after Umar's assassination. His twelve-year reign saw continued expansion but also growing internal dissent, culminating in his assassination. He is known for standardizing the Quranic text.

Under Uthman, Muslim forces conquered Armenia and expanded into North Africa, capturing Tripoli and establishing control over the region. These campaigns extended the caliphate's reach and brought new territories under Islamic rule.

Uthman ordered the compilation of a standard written version of the Quran, based on the codex of Abu Bakr. He sent copies to major cities and ordered the destruction of variant texts, ensuring uniformity of the Islamic scripture.

Rebels from Egypt and other provinces besieged Uthman's house in Medina, demanding reforms. After weeks of siege, they broke in and assassinated him while he was reading the Quran. His death sparked the First Fitna (civil war) among Muslims.