Theodoric the Goth | Page 2

that her unity even under Theodoric was not so
complete as I then imagined it. But still, as I have more than once
stated in the following pages, I look upon his reign as a time full of
seeds of promise for Italy and the world, if only these seeds might have
had time to germinate and ripen into harvest. Closer study has only
confirmed me in the opinion that the Ostrogothic kingdom was one of
the great "Might-have-beens" of History.
THOMAS HODGKIN.
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, January 25, 1891.

CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I.

THEODORIC'S ANCESTORS
Ostrogoths and Visigoths--Nations forming the Gothic
Confederacy--Royal family of the Amals--Gothic invasion in the
Second Century--Hermanic the Ostrogoth--Inroad of the Huns--Defeat
of the Ostrogoths--Defeat of the Visigoths--The Visigoths within the
Empire--Battle of Adrianople--Alaric in Rome.
CHAPTER II.
THE MIGHT OF ATTILA
The Ostrogoths under the Huns--The three royal brothers--Attila, king
of the Huns--He menaces the Eastern Empire--He strikes at
Gaul--Battle of the Catalaunian plains--Invasion of Italy--Destruction
of Aquileia--Death of Attila and disruption of his Empire--Settlement
of the Ostrogoths in Pannonia.
CHAPTER III.
THEODORIC'S BOYHOOD
Inroad of the Huns--Their defeat by Walamir--Birth of Theodoric--War
with the Eastern Empire--Theodoric a hostage--Description of
Constantinople--Its commerce and its monuments.
CHAPTER IV.
THE SOUTHWARD MIGRATION
Struggles with the Swabians, Sarmatians, Scyri, and Huns--Death of
Walamir--Theudemir becomes king--Theodoric defeats Babai--The
Teutonic custom of the Comitatus--An Ostrogothic
Folc-mote--Theudemir invades the Eastern Empire--Macedonian
settlement of the Ostrogoths.
CHAPTER V.

STORM AND STRESS
Death of Theudemir, and accession of Theodoric--Leo the
Butcher--The Emperor Zeno--The march of Theodoric against the son
of Triarius--His invasion of Macedonia--Defeat of his rear-guard--His
compact with the Emperor.
CHAPTER VI.
ITALY UNDER ODOVACAR
Condition of Italy--End of the line of Theodosius--Ricimer the
Patrician--Struggles with the Vandals--Orestes the Patrician makes his
son Emperor, who is called Augustulus--The fall of the Western
Empire and elevation of Odovacar--Embassies to Constantinople.
CHAPTER VII.
THE CONQUEST OF ITALY
Odovacar invades Dalmatia--Conducts a successful campaign against
the Rugians--Theodoric accepts from Zeno the commission to
overthrow Odovacar--He invades Italy, overthrowing the Gepidæ, who
attempt to bar his passage--Battles of the Isonzo and Verona--Odovacar
takes refuge in Ravenna--The treachery of Tufa--Gundobad, king of the
Burgundians, comes to Italy to oppose Theodoric, while Alaric II, king
of the Visigoths, comes as his ally--The battle of the Adda, and further
defeat of Odovacar--Surrender of Ravenna--Assassination of Odovacar.
CHAPTER VIII.
CIVILITAS
Transformation in the character of Theodoric--His title--Embassies to
Zeno and Anastasius--Theodoric's care for the rebuilding of cities and
repair of aqueducts--Encouragement of commerce and
manufactures--Revival of agriculture--Anecdotes of Theodoric.

CHAPTER IX.
ROMAN OFFICIALS--CASSIODORUS
The government of Italy still carried on according to Roman
precedents--Classification of the officials--The Consulship and the
Senate--Cassiodorus, his character and his work--His history of the
Goths--His letters and state papers.
CHAPTER X.
THE ARIAN LEAGUE 175
Political bearings of the Arianism of the German invaders of the
Empire--Vandals, Suevi, Visigoths, Burgundians--Uprise of the power
of Clovis--His conversion to Christianity--His wars with Gundobad,
king of the Burgundians--With Alaric II, king of the
Visigoths--Downfall of the monarchy of Toulouse--Usurpation of
Gesalic--Theodoric governs Spain as guardian of his grandson
Amalaric.
CHAPTER XI.
ANASTASIUS
Anastasius, the Eastern Emperor--His character--His disputes with his
subjects--Theodoric and the king of the Gepidæ--War of Sirmium and
its consequences--Raid on the coast of Italy--Reconciliation between
the courts of Ravenna and Constantinople--Anastasius confers on
Clovis the title of Consul--Clovis removes many of his rivals--Death of
Clovis--Death of Anastasius.
CHAPTER XII.
ROME AND RAVENNA
Theodoric's visit to Rome--Disputed Papal election--Theodoric's speech

at the Golden Palm--The monk Fulgentius--Bread distributions--Races
in the Circus--Conspiracy of Odoin--Return to Ravenna--Marriage
festivities of Amalaberga--Description of Ravenna--Mosaics in the
churches--S. Apollinare Dentro--Processions of virgins and
martyrs--Arian baptistery--So-called palace of Theodoric--Vanished
statues.
CHAPTER XIII.
BOËTHIUS
Clouds in the horizon--Anxiety as to the succession--Death of Eutharic,
son-in-law of Theodoric--His son Athalaric proclaimed as Theodoric's
heir--Pope and Emperor reconciled--Anti-Jewish riot at
Ravenna--Strained relations of Theodoric and his Catholic subjects---
Leaders of the Roman party--Boëthius and Symmachus--Break-down
of the Arian leagues--Cyprian accuses Albinus of treason--Boëthius,
interposing, is included in the charge--His trial, condemnation and
death--The "Consolation of Philosophy".
CHAPTER XIV.
THEODORIC'S TOMB
Embassy of Pope John to Constantinople--His imprisonment and
death--Execution of Symmachus--Opportune death of
Theodoric--Various stories respecting it--His mausoleum--- Ultimate
fate of his remains.
CHAPTER XV.
AMALASUENTHA
Accession of the Emperor Justinian--His place in history--Overthrow of
the Vandal kingdom in Africa by Belisarius--Battles of Ad Decimum
and Tricamaron--Belisarius' triumph--Fall of the Burgundian
kingdom--Death of Amalaric king of Spain--Amalasuentha's troubles

with her subjects as to her son's education--Secret negotiations with
Justinian--Death of Athalaric--Theodahad made partner in the
throne--Murder of Amalasuentha--Justinian declares war.
CHAPTER XVI.
BELISARIUS
Justinian begins his great Gothic war--Dalmatia recovered for the
Empire--Belisarius lands in Sicily--Siege of Palermo--The south of
Italy overrun--Naples taken by a stratagem--Theodahad deposed by the
Goths--Witigis elected king--The Goths evacuate Rome--Belisarius
enters it--The long siege of Rome by the Goths who fail to take
it--Belisarius marches northward and