European Kingdoms

The Suevi / Suebi

These were a confederation of Germanic peoples which included the tribes of the Marcomanni and Quadi, the Hermunduri, Semnones, the Langobardes (Lombards), and the Alemanni.

The Hunnic invasions forced the Suevi to move. After leaving their German homelands (without the Lombards and the Alemanni), the Suevi founded a barbarian kingdom in the hostile mountains of Galicia, situated in the extreme northwestern corner of Iberia. Their territory also extended down in a broad swathe into much of modern Portugal. The Alemanni remained in their homeland and founded what later became the German principality of Swabia.

(Additional information taken from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway.)

1st century BC

Ariovistus

1st century BC

Ariovistus is a leader of the Suevi and other allied Germanic peoples in the second quarter of the first century BC, and at least up to 58 BC. He and his followers take part in a war in Gaul, assisting the Gallic Arverni and Sequani to defeat their rivals the Aedui.

He subsequently settles with large numbers of his followers in conquered Gallic territory in the Alsace region, but is defeated at the Battle of Vosges and driven back over the Rhine in 58 BC by Julius Caesar's Roman legions.

407 - 409

The bulk of the Suevi cross the Rhine at Mainz in 407 in association with the Vandals & Alans. After spending two years on the west bank of the Rhine, all three tribes settle in Roman Spain by 409, disrupting the Gallic empire of Constantine III. Some Suevi groups remain on the Rhine as part of the Frankish confederation.

409 - 438

Hermeric

426

Their Vandal & Alan allies merge into a unified tribe.

428 - 448

Rechila

447

By now, with the departure of the Vandals from Iberia, the Suevi control the former Roman provinces of Lusitania and Baetica.

The Suevi Kingdom

The Suevi managed to set up a kingdom in former Roman Lusitania and Baetica, in what became Galicia.

448 - 456

Rechiar(ius)

Became Christian by the time of his enthronement.

456

Rechiar is defeated by the Visigoths under Theodoric II. The remnants of the Suevi struggle on. At the same time, Ricimer (Ricomer), the son of a prince of the Suevi with a mother who was the daughter of Wallia, king of the Visigoths, secures a senior position in the Western Empire in Rome.

456 - 457

Aioulf

457 - 460

Maldras

460 - c.463

Richimund

Ruled in the north.

460 - c.465

Frumar

Ruled in the south.

c.463 - ?

Remisund

Unknown number of kings.

c.550 - 559

Carriaric

559 - 570

Theodemar

570 - 582

Miro

582 - 584

Eboric

584 - 585

Andeca

585

The Suevi kingdom falls to the Visigoths.

712

The region falls under control of the Caliphs.

c.725

The region is appended to the Christian kingdom of Asturias.