Ostrogothic Kingdom

History

The Ostrogoths (Eastern Goths) were a branch of the Goths, a Germanic people from northern and central Europe. They lived north of the Black Sea and, in the late 4th century, were absorbed into the Hunnic Empire - The Huns were a nomadic people from the Eurasian Steppe who appeared in Europe in the late 4th century. Their origins remain the subject of scholarly debate, with some linking them to the Xiongnu who ....

After Attila's death and the Battle of Nedao in 454, they broke free and rebuilt their own power. In the Balkans they negotiated with the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire - The medieval continuation of the Roman Empire in the East, centered on Constantinople. For over a millennium, it served as a bastion of Christianity and Roman law, preserving ancient knowledge until its fall in 1453.).

Their leader Theoderic (r. 471–526) sought a homeland for his people.

At Emperor Zeno's request he marched into Italy in 488, defeated Odoacer, and took Ravenna in 493, founding the Ostrogothic Kingdom. The kingdom kept many Roman laws and officials, so Roman Italians and Goths lived side by side.

Theoderic repaired cities and roads and tried to balance both communities. After Theoderic's death, internal struggles weakened the kingdom.

The Eastern Roman Empire launched the Gothic War (a long war to retake Italy), and by 553 the Ostrogothic Kingdom fell. The remaining Ostrogoths gradually blended into other peoples.