Flashcards
The Visigoths
Cards in this deck (63)
- 1A subset of Goths• No history or record by the Goths so everything recorded is from a Rome perspective.
• The Romans viewed them in a negative way, seeing them as savage, demonic and uncivilised. - 2AlaricThe Sack of Rome
AD 410 - 3Origins of VisigothsOriginally migrating from the main Goth tribe, the Visigoths were known as the Western ‘Bright’ Goths
- 4Goths were divided into two groupsthe Visigoths, and the Ostrogoths. they were Germanic groups strongly influenced by Roman culture as seen in their jewellery, architecture and coins
- 5Migration of Visigoths (and Ostragoths)Over time these two tribes moved into the fringes of the Black Sea and across the Danube.
Goths - 6Bishop Ulfilas A.D. 310 – 38 was a Goth or half-Goth and half-Greek from Cappadocia. In AD 348 Converts Gothic communities to Christianity• This was the Arian type of Christianity which viewed God as being ‘higher’ than Jesus.
• This was different to the Orthodox Christians who saw God and Jesus as the same. - 7AD 325First Council of Nicaea (Turkey)
First Synod (council) of church bishops in order to discuss and resolve matters of theology, doctrine and organisation - 8Bishops Alexander and Athanasius“God the Father and God the Son were
COETERNAL and COEQUAL”
i.e. they were both of the same SUBSTANCE - 9Arius“God the Father and God the Son were
SIMILAR but not the same”
i.e. the Son was a CREATION of the Father - 10Visigoths followed the ARIAN CreedSeen as “Heretical”
- 11Arian Visigoths that cross into the Roman Empire no longer PaganThey ARE CHRISTIAN
But the WRONG KIND of Christian from the ORTHODOX perspective - 12Roman Empire Attractive to Gothic tribes because of:Wealth
Trade prospects
Rich soils
Employment prospects
Security - 13Rome at the time of the Visigoth migrationon way to become
an Empire of Two Halves - 14The Empire Divided AD 286Diocletian and Maximian
as seen in the coins of that era
Western Empire Eastern Empire - 15The Empire United AD 324Constantine becomes the sole Ruler
Founded Nova Roma (Constantinople) the political and administrative centre of the Empire - 16AD 337Constantine II, Constans and Constantius II
three rulers, as seen by coins of the time
Western Empire Middle Eastern Empire - 17AD 350Magnentius and Constantius II
two rulers of empire as seen by coins of time
Western Empire Eastern Empire - 18AD 353Constantius II
- 19AD 355Julian and Constantius II
Julian Caesar of Western provinces
Constantius Emporer of Eastern side - 20AD 360Julian Constantius II
Julian Acclaimed Western Augustus by Soldiers in Paris
Constantius II Emperor still of Eastern side - 21AD 361Julian now entered Constantinople as the only Emperor of the Roman Empire
- 22Under Julian's ruleUse of Coins for propaganda show united Roman empire under Julian and defeat of enemies, Goths and Persians. Roman figures large and enemies small
- 23Julian The ‘apostate’Restored Hellenic paganism (“the old gods”)Laws target wealthy Christians
Repealed Christian privileges
Removes Christians from government
Restored non-Christian places of worship
Edicts proclaim religious tolerance - 24By that time ConstantinopleViewed in the West as a haven for Christianity Christianity viewed by Senate as the destroyer of tradition
- 25At that time RomeViewed in the East as conservative Paganism viewed by bishops as the greatest threat
- 26Persian King Shapur II AD 309 - 379 attacked Roman ProvincesIn AD 358 he attacks Roman possessions in Mesopotamia and in AD 363 Emperor Julian dies in the war
- 27Julian AD 355 - 63Julian's death was envisaged by the Dream of Saint Basil of Julian being speared by Saint Mercurius
- 28AD364Valentinian I is now emperor but is then joined by his brother Valens and the Empire is then divided to be jointly ruled
- 29AD 375Gratian (Elder son of Valentinian) AGED 16 was senior Augustus and Valentinian II (younger son of Valentinian) AGED 4 was junior Augustus
- 30AD 376Goths affected by migrating Hunnic tribes so under the command of their leader Alavivus, they occupied the banks of the Danube and sent ambassadors to Valens asking to be received by him as his subjects, promising to live quietly, and provide auxiliary troops if required
- 31Visigoths cross the Danube with Valens permissionSettled in Thrace
but men given chief military appointments over them were bad characters, chief among them were Lupicinus Count of Thrace and Maximus.
Lupicinus fought against Goths but defeated. - 32Valen's response to battle of ThraceValen's responded and would not wait for Gratian's armies to support him. At battle of Adrianople 378 AD Roman infantry fails against heavy Gothic cavalry. c. 40,000 Roman soldiers killed
- 33Result from AD 378 Battle of AdrianopleEastern Emperor dead; All of the emperor’s advisors dead; Core of the eastern army destroyed; Valuable administrators killed and
Goths unchecked
So Gratian appoints Theodosius, former governor of Moesia, to replace Valens as co-Augustus for the East - 34Theodosius I AD 378 - 95Lack of reserves leads to a recruitment crisis in the East Recruitment failure increases need for barbarian troops
So makes peace with the Goths, who are given land in Thrace (Bulgaria) and new status as independent people (foederati) - 35AD 383Now four rulers
Gratian, Valentinian II and also Magnus Maximus
in areas of Western Empire
Theodosius in the Eastern Empire - 36Late AD 383Now four rulers
Gratian replaced and now Flavius Victor, Valentinian II and also Magnus Maximus
in areas of Western Empire
Theodosius in the Eastern Empire - 37AD 388Valentinian II and Theodosius only
- 38Valentinian II AD 375 - 93Killed by Arbogast (Magister Militum
- 39Magister militumOne of the Imperial Household staff
He was master of the soldiers and there was one each for the Eastern and Western halves of the Empire.. It was the highest ranking officer in the Empire and he acted as the chief military adviser to the Emperor - 40Flavius Eugenius AD 392 - 4Installed as puppet emperor by General Arbogast
Coins made at that time emphasise legitimacy and continuity - 41Flavius Eugenius' ruleProjected an increased emphasise on ‘Roma’, with support for the ‘old gods’ and resistance to the power and dominance of the East
- 42Theodosius I “Gift of God”Coins from his reign emphasise ‘Constantinopolis’ and ‘Roma’
In AD 394 Takes army of the East (with large Gothic contingent) to attack Eugenius and Arbogast - 43The Battle of the Frigidus September 5th – 6th AD 394Eugenius defeated and Theodosius (and the East) victorious so Eastern Christianity triumphant
However, 10,000 Goths provided by Alaric “All King” AD 394 General in the Visigothic army,
also die in the battle Suspicion amongst the Goths that they ‘disposable - 44AD 395Theodosius died and his two sons became emperors
Honorius (10) and Arcadius (17)
but Stilicho, the Magister Militum
claims regency over both the sons of Theodosius - 45Alaric after Theodosis' deathAlaric became seditious and disobedient to the laws, was annoyed he had not been given command of other military forces besides the Barbarians given to him by Theodosius. He marched out of Thrace into Macedon and Thessaly, committing devastation on his way.
- 46AD 397 Stilicho leads an army from Rome to drive Alaric out of Greecebut Alaric is made Magister Militum by Eutropius (guardian of Arcadius)
- 47AD 401 Alaric leads his people into ItalyStilicho attacks Alaric But lets him escape back to Greece
- 48An Empire of Three HalvesLatin West Greek East
Gothic Centre - 49May AD 408 Honorius (23)Fearful of Gothic influence and paranoid at home Honorius strikes at the one person he can get to -
Stilicho
Then he had all ‘barbarians’, their children and those suspected of ‘barbarian leanings’ executed - 50Honorius' actions resulted inThe murdered barbarians relatives joining Alaric in his war against Rome
- 51AD 408 The Aurelian WallBuilt between 271 and 275 AD in Rome, during reign of Emperors Aurelian and Probus.
It was 19 km long, enclosing 2,500 ha and had been modified by Honorius in AD 801 by gateways reduced, portcullis added and towers enlarged and strengthened - 52The effects of the Aurelian WallEffective against surprise attack Effective against Barbarian army (no experience of siege war) Designed to stall an attack until relief arrives from provinces
- 53Alaric's practical responseAlaric blocked up the gates all round, and having possessed himself of the river Tiber, prevented the arrival of necessaries from the port to the city. The City of Rome was now under siege.
- 54Alaric's verbal responseAlaric declared, that he would not relinquish the siege on any condition but that of receiving all the gold and silver in the city, all the household goods, and the Barbarian slaves.
- 55AD 408Roman envoys agree to pay Alaric: 5,000 lb of gold 30,000 lb of silver 3,000 scarlet sheepskins 3,000 lb of pepper
Jovius Praetorian Prefect of Italy offers Goths territory in Noricum Offers and Alaric the post as Magister Militum - 56Honorius' responseHonorius had fled the city to his palace in Ravenna as 30,000 members of Western army defected to Alaric. He stated,
“No dignity or command should ever be conferred on Alaric, or any of his family” - 57Alaric only wanted a truce“Only demanded as much corn as the emperor should think proper to grant and would remit the gold. And that a friendship and alliance should subsist between himself and the Romans, against every one that should rise to oppose the empire”
- 58HonoriusRejects any offer of a truce so Alaric moves again to Rome
- 5924th August AD 410 Sack of RomeBaptista Egnatius wrote that the Goths, on being admitted, immediately began to plunder the city, although they committed more dishonour than mischief to the citizens. An edict was made by Alaric, that whoever took refuge in the churches of saints, especially in those of Peter and Paul, should receive no injury; which was accordingly observed with great care.
- 60Sack of Rome ultimately a failure for Alaric:He had captured the very city he was so keen to be part of
Honorius still fails to acknowledge him
Still no permanent homeland for the Goths - 61AD 410 Alaric diesBrother-in-law Athaulf leads the Goths into southern Gaul
He stated that the aim of the Visigoths was to restore and maintain, the prosperity of the Roman Empire, not to subvert it. - 62AD 417 Wallia, Athaulf’s successor makes peace with Honorius Visigoths granted their own kingdomThey became the police force of the empire, keeping the Barbarians away from the Roman Empire and collecting taxes.
- 63The VisigothsWere not the savages they were so often portrayed as.
They wanted to be Roman and adopt Roman culture
They viewed Rome as a success and wanted to be part of it.
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- University Dominique's Roman exam revision Flashcards on The Visigoths, created by annielouallen2004 on 26/08/2013.
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