The Rule of the Dukes was the decade-long interregnum from 574 or 575 which affected the Lombard kingdom in Italy after the death of Cleph. The Lombards had entered the peninsula in 568 under Alboin. Under Alboin's successor, Cleph, they continued to expand at the expense of the Byzantines. However, Cleph's reign was short and his rule hard. Upon his death, the Lombards did not elect another leader king, leaving the territorial dukes the highest authorities in Lombard territories. However, the dukes were unable to organize themselves under a single leader capable of continuing their successes against the Empire.

When they invaded Merovingian Provence (584 or 585), the Frankish kings Guntram and Childebert II invaded Lombardy, took Trent, and opened negotiations with Tiberius II Constantine, Emperor of the East and nominal overlord of the hard-pressed Exarchate of Ravenna. Finally, tired of disunion, fearing a pincer action from the Greeks of the Mezzogiorno and the Franks, and lacking the leadership necessary to withstand combined military forces, the dukes elected a king, Authari. They ceded to Authari the old capital of Pavia and half of their ducal demesnes, though the fidelity to their oath with which this last promise was carried out is suspect. Authari successfully consolidated the Lombard realm against enemies on all sides throughout his reign.

Among the known reigning dukes of the times were:

Zotto, duke of Benevento - Zotto (also Zotton or Zottone) was the military leader (Latin dux) of the Lombards in the Mezzogiorno. He is generally considered the founder of the duchy of Benevento in 571 and its first duke.
With his troops, he penetrated Campania in August 570, confronting the Byzantines, whom he defeated consistently. He fixed his camp in Benevento, which became the capital of the new duchy. He tried to take Naples, but failed and had to lift the siege (581).
As a duke he was quasi-independent, the north of the peninsula being under the control of the Lombard king, who had little influence in the south. He finally submitted to royal authority in 589.
He died in 591 and was succeeded by Arechis, his nephew.

Vallari, duke of Bergamo

Alagis I, duke of Brescia

Gisulf I, duke of Friuli - Gisulf I was the first duke of Friuli (then Forum Julii), a nephew of Alboin, first king of the Lombards in Italy, as a son of his brother Grasulf. Alboin appointed him duke around 569 after the Lombard conquest of the region.
Before this, Gisulf had been his uncle's marpahis or "master of the horse," sometimes considered a shield-bearer. He was, according to Paul the Deacon, "a man suitable in every way."[1] He asked Alboin for permission to chose which faras or clans he would lead rule over in Friuli and this request was granted. He thus chose which families would settle permanently in Friuli and he "acquired the honour of a leader (ducior)."[2] As well, Alboin granted him a great herd of mares, perhaps in recognition of his former service.
He reigned during the Rule of the Dukes from 575 to 585. He was succeeded by his son Gisulf II.

Zaban, duke of Pavia - Zaban was the Lombard dux (or duke) of Pavia (Ticinum) during the decade-long interregnum known as the Rule of the Dukes (574 – 584). Pavia had been the capital of the Lombard kingdom, but after the death of King Cleph, it became the centre of a great duchy, one of thirty five into which the Lombard state was then divided. It seems that, as the ruler of the ancient capital, Zaban held a certain superiority of rank over his fellow duces and may have acted as their commander-in-chief.
In 574, Zaban invaded the lands of Guntram, King of Burgundy, in what is today Switzerland, but was repulsed and had to return to Italy.
In 575, Zaban and his fellow dukes Amo and Rodanus invaded the valleys of the Rhône and Saône. Amo passing by Embrun encamped near Manosque, a city of Mummolus, the Gallo-Roman general of Burgundy. Rodanus besieged Grenoble and Zaban passing down the valley of the Durance by Die, laid siege to Valence. Amo successfullly subdued the regions of Arles and Marseilles, while Mummolus rescued the city of Grenoble and sent Rodanus and his army of 500 to the protection of Zaban's forces. The two then marched on Embrun, plundered it, and met an army of Mummolus'. Defeated, they retreated back to Susa, in Italy, which was a Byzantine possession of the magister militum, Sisinnius. Mummolus invaded Italy and forced Zaban and Rodanus to return to their own duchies, while Amo had to abandon his booty while crossing the Alps. Guntram's kingdom was extended at the expense of the Lombard to include the cisalpine cities of Aosta and Susa. The Lombards hereafter ceased their Gaulish invasions.

Faroald I, duke of Spoleto - Faroald I (also spelled Faruald) (died 591 or 592) was the first duke of Spoleto, which he established during the decade of interregnum that followed the death of Alboin's successor (574 or 575). He led the Lombards into the centre of the Italian peninsula while Zotto led them into the south.
In 579, he sacked Classis, the harbour of Ravenna. Between 584 and 588, Classis was retaken by Droctulf.
His sons fought over the duchy in 602 and Theudelapius was victorious.

Euin, duke of Trent

Aimone, duke of Turin

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