thumbnail|350px|Europe at the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD. The Thuringii established an empire in the late fifth century. It reached its territorial peak in the first half of the sixth before it was conquered by the Franks in 531–532. Examination of Thuringian grave sites reveal cranial features which suggest the strong presence of Hunnic women or slaves, perhaps indicating that many Thuringians took Hunnic wives or Hunnic slaves following the collapse of the Hunnic Empire.Schutz, 411. There is also evidence from jewellery found in graves that the Thuringians sought marriages with Ostrogothic and Lombard women. Under the leadership of Alboin, a large group of Thuringii joined the Lombards on their migration into Italy. The Lombard king Agilulf (590–616) was of Thuringian descent.
tHUmbnail|350px|eUrOpE at ThE fall OF the wesTeRn romaN empIre in 476 ad. tHe tHUrInGiI eSTaBLiSHed aN EMPIre In the laTe fiFTh CEntury. It reaChEd its TerRitoriAL pEAk In ThE firSt HaLf Of the SIxTh Before it Was cOnQuereD By tHe Franks iN 531–532. exAmination Of thuRingIAn grAVE sitEs ReveaL CRAnial featUrEs wHICH suggesT ThE STrong prEseNcE of hUnniC woMen oR sLaVEs, PerHaps indICatiNg tHAT many thuringiANs tOok huNniC Wives OR hUnnic sLaves folloWing the coLlaPse Of the HunNic eMpiresCHutz, 411. thERe is also eVidenCe from jEwelLEry Found In gRavEs tHat the thuRiNgiAnS sOught maRRIAges wITh osTrOgOThic ANd Lombard woMEn. unDer THE LeadErSHip of aLboin, a LargE group of thUrinGII Joined THE lombaRds On tHeIr MigRation Into itALY. tHE lOmBaRd kING AGiLULf (590–616) WaS Of THuRINgiAN descent.