Visigoths
The Visigoths were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East Germanic tribe, who played a significant role in the decline of the Western Roman Empire. Here are detailed aspects of their history:
Origins and Early History
The Visigoths, known also as the Western Goths or Tervingi, originated from the area around the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea. They were part of the larger Gothic Migration that moved southwards into the territories of the Roman Empire due to pressures from the Huns.
Entry into the Roman Empire
- 376 AD - The Visigoths sought refuge within the Roman Empire to escape the Huns. This migration led to tensions and conflicts due to poor treatment by Roman officials, culminating in the Battle of Adrianople in 378 AD, where they inflicted a crushing defeat on the Roman forces.
- After Adrianople, the Visigoths were allowed to settle within the Empire, initially as foederati (allied troops).
Establishment in Roman Territory
Under leaders like Alaric I, the Visigoths became a significant military power within the Empire:
- Alaric led the sack of Rome in 410 AD, marking the first time the city had been captured in nearly 800 years.
- After Alaric's death, his successor Ataulf married Galla Placidia, sister of the Roman Emperor, symbolizing an alliance between the Visigoths and the Roman Empire.
Kingdom of the Visigoths
The Visigoths established their own kingdom:
- Their first significant territorial base was in Aquitania (modern-day southwestern France), granted to them by the Romans in 418 AD.
- By 507 AD, under King Alaric II, they expanded into the Iberian Peninsula, creating the Visigothic Kingdom.
Visigothic Rule in Spain
- The Visigoths ruled much of the Iberian Peninsula until the Muslim Conquest of Spain in 711 AD.
- Their kingdom saw the codification of laws, including the Visigothic Code, which was one of the earliest examples of a Germanic law code.
- The Visigoths converted to Catholicism from Arianism in the late 6th century, which helped to integrate them with the local Romanized population.
Culture and Legacy
- Their cultural influence is evident in the architecture, like the Visigothic Art seen in some Spanish churches.
- Their legal systems and governance structures influenced subsequent legal traditions in Spain.
Decline and End
- The Battle of Guadalete in 711 AD marked the beginning of the end for the Visigothic Kingdom when their king, Roderic, was defeated by the Umayyad Caliphate.
- The Visigothic kingdom fragmented into small Christian states, which eventually formed the basis of modern Spain.
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