The Emergence of Europe (286-843) Part XIV: The End of the Ostrogoth Kingdom

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 Fourteen explains that Justinian had conquered much of the former western Roman empire, but he soon had to deal with a surprise Persian invasion in the east and a widespread epidemic. Since the empire was busy on the eastern front, the surviving Goths attempted to regain control of Italy, but they failed to drive out the imperial army. Determined to gain control of Italy, Justinian funded a huge army that gradually conquered Italy.

 

Cast of Characters:

Wittigis-king of the Ostrogoths (536-540)

Totila-king of the Ostrogoths (541-552)

Teias-final king of the Ostrogoths (552)

Justinian-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (527-565), nephew of former emperor Justin

Germanus-generalissimo of the Eastern Roman Empire (536-550), cousin in Justinian

Matasuintha-widow of Germanus, widow of Wittigus, and granddaughter of Theodoric the Great

Belisarius-leading general of the Eastern Roman Empire

Narses-general of the Eastern Roman Empire

Theudis-king of the Visigoths (531-548)

Theudigisel-king of the Visigoths (548-549), son of Theodahad

Agila-king of the Visigoths (549-554)

Athangild-king of Visigoths (554-567)

Childebert-king of Orleans (511-558), son of Clovis

Childebert-king of Neustria (511-561), son of Clovis

Theudebert I-king of Austrasia (533-548). grandson of Clovis

 

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

Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint-Peter Sarris

Visigothic Spain 409-711-Roger Collins

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

Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe-Judith Herrin

 

Image Credit

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