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The Ostrogoths
Eastern Goths. They originally dominated Southern Russia
but were forced west by the Hunnish invasion, and later
enslaved until the death of Attila.
From the point at which they were defeated by the Huns up to the death of Attila, nearly a hundred years
later, little is known of the Ostrogoths. It is certain that the vast majority of them
remained as loyal vassals of their Hunnic overlords. They formed a significant contingent
of Attila's army, and at the Battle of Châlons in 451 found themselves on the opposite
side to their Visigothic cousins, serving as allies
of Aëtius, the Roman Patrician. The Huns were defeated but it was not until Attila's
death two years later that the Hunnic Empire collapsed.
In the redistribution of power, the Ostrogoths (led by the Amali branch of
Goths) found themselves in possession of Pannonia
(roughly modern Hungary) as Roman federates. But with hostile neighbours on all sides and
an increasing dependence on subsidies from their new masters in Constantinople, Theodoric
(the son of King Thiudimir), rose to become the leader of his people and led them out of
the unpromising lands in which they had settled and moved into Moesia, close to
Constantinople itself. |
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270s |
The Greutungi, or Ostrogoths,
are a branch of Goths who are conquered by the Huns, who
sweep into Europe from the Asiatic steppes in the latter half of the fourth century. |
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fl 370 |
Ermanaric |
Killed himself as the
Ostrogothic kingdom was overrun. |
c.375 - 453 |
The invading
Huns subjugate the barbarian kingdom of the Ostrogoths. |
405 - 407 |
Radagaisus,
a barbarian leader of unknown origin, and his army of Goths,
Vandals,
Suevi,
Burgundians, and
Alans is defeated by
Roman commander Stilicho
when they invade Italy in 405. The barbarians are incorporated into the
Roman forces. |
|
447 - c.465 |
Valamir |
Cousin of Thorismund.
King of the Ostrogoths in Pannonia. |
456 - 457 |
The Ostrogoths defeat and rout Attila's sons in their fight for independence
from the Huns. |
468 - 474 |
Thiudimir |
Father of Theodoric. |
|
474 - 493 |
Theodoric |
|
489 - 493 |
At the behest of
Eastern Emperor Zeno, Theodoric invades Italy and
founds an Ostrogothic kingdom based in
Rome. |
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The Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy
AD 493 - 552
Theodoric led the Ostrogothic invasion of Italy, which swept away Odoacer's Post-Imperial
Romano-Gothic kingdom, and created an
Ostrogothic one which held much of Italy until
Byzantium began a re-conquest of the
Western Empire in southern Italy. Despite the fact that the invasion had been devised by
Emperor Zeno, the Ostrogoths ruled independently,
although overtures to Byzantium were made by some Ostrogoth leaders after his death. |
|
493 - 526 |
Theodoric |
Murdered Odoacer at a banquet. |
490 - 497 |
Theodoric asks the
Eastern Roman emperor for permission to wear the purple, but
this is refused. After he seizes Ravenna and is proclaimed king of the Goths
in 493 the position changes. In 497 Anastasius sends back the western
imperial regalia which Constantinople had received in 476. Theodoric
nevertheless continues to be titled rex. |
526 |
Amalasuntha |
Regent. Widow of
Theodoric. Murdered by her cousin. |
526 - 534 |
Athalaric |
Grandson of
Theodoric. |
534 - 536 |
Theodatus |
|
536 - 540 |
Vittigis |
Fled to Ravenna
in 536. Killed 540. |
|
536 |
Rome
is freed from barbarian rule by the Eastern Roman Empire in
Byzantium.
The Goths are subjugated. |
540 |
Theobald |
|
540 - 541 |
Eraric |
|
541 - 552 |
Totila (Baduila) |
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546 |
The Ostrogoths revolt and
recapture Rome. |
552 - 553 |
Teias |
Last king of the
Ostrogoths. |
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552 |
Rome is finally
retaken by Byzantium, which governs Italy from
Ravenna. This is the end of Ostrogothic rule in Italy. |
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