Thus, Lubarna's name seems to hearken back to the power of the Hittites in the Bronze Age.
There was an earlier Pattinite king who had this regnal name, contemporary to Ashurnasirpal II of Assyria.
Lubarna's apparent predecessor, Halparuntiya II, sent tribute to the Assyrian Great King, Shalmaneser III.
It is very likely then, that Lubarna was appointed as a vassal ruler by the king of Assyria.
In 831, however, Lubarna was assassinated by his subjects for being too pro-Assyrian, and replaced by a usurper named Surri.