The Emergence of Europe (286-843) Part IX: Theodoric Settles Down

A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode Nine explains that Theodoric had gained control of Italy. Although the Ostrogoths were Homoean Christians, Theodoric was tolerant of the Catholic majority in Italy, so he had smooth relations with the church. However, the eastern Roman emperor refused to make Theodoric western Roman emperor, although he did recognize Theodoric as ruler of Italy. Meanwhile, Clovis had united several Frankish warbands under his leadership, and was expanding into Visigoth territory.

 

Cast of Characters:

Odovacar-king of Italy (476-493)

Leo I-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (457-474)

Zeno-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (474-475, 476-491)

Anastasius I-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (491-518)

Theodoric-king of Italy (493-526), king of the Osotogths (475-526)

Alaric II-king of the Visigoths, son of Euric (484-507)

Gundobad-king of the Burgundians (473-516), generalissimo of the Western Roman Empire (472-473), nephew of Ricimer

Childeric-Frankish chieftain, father of Clovis

Clovis-king of the Franks (481-511)

Thrasamund-king of the Vandals and Alans (496-523)

Felix III-pope (483-492)

Gelasius I-pope (492-496)

Anastasius II-pope (496-498)

Symmachus-pope (498-514)

Laurentius-rival claimant for the papacy

 

Sources:

Christendom: The Triumph of a Religion-Peter Heather

Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West 376-568-Guy Halsall

The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians-Peter Heather

The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization-Bryan Ward-Perkins

The Inheritance of Rome-A History of Europe from 400 to 1000-Chris Wickham

Empires of Faith: The Fall of Rome to the Rise of Islam, 500-700-Peter Sarris

Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages-Dan Jones

The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders-Peter Heather

Theodoric the Great: King of Goths, Ruler of Romans-Hans-Ulrich Wiemer, Translated by John Noel Dillon

The Franks-Edward James

Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire that Rescued Western Civilization-Lars Brownsworth

Byzantium: The Early Centuries-John Julius Norwich

Visigothic Spain 409-711-Roger Collins

History of the Goths-Herwig Wolfram, translated by Thomas J. Dunlap

Keepers of the Keys of Heaven: A History of the Papacy-Roger Collins

 

Image Credit

By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625