Ostrogoths

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Gothic_Kingdoms

230_CE,_Europe

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Ostrogoths

The Ostrogoths were a branch of the Goths, an East Germanic tribe that played a major role in the history of the late Roman Empire. The Ostrogoths established a powerful kingdom in Italy in the late 5th and 6th centuries AD.

History

The Ostrogoths originated from the region north of the Black Sea, in what is now Ukraine and southern Russia. They were part of the larger Gothic group, which also included the Visigoths. The Ostrogoths were initially under the domination of the Huns until the death of Attila the Hun in 453 AD, after which they gained independence.

Migration and Settlement

Following their liberation from the Huns, the Ostrogoths, led by their king Theodoric the Great, migrated into the Balkans and eventually into Italy. In 493 AD, Theodoric defeated Odoacer, the Germanic king of Italy, and established the Ostrogothic Kingdom.

Ostrogothic Kingdom

The Ostrogothic Kingdom under Theodoric the Great was a period of relative stability and prosperity. Theodoric maintained Roman traditions and governance structures while also promoting Gothic culture. He ruled from Ravenna, which became the capital of the Ostrogothic Kingdom.

Decline and Fall

The Ostrogothic Kingdom began to decline after the death of Theodoric in 526 AD. Internal conflicts and pressure from the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Justinian I led to the Gothic War (535–554). The Ostrogoths were eventually defeated, and their kingdom was absorbed into the Byzantine Empire.

Culture

The Ostrogoths, like other Gothic tribes, practiced Arianism, a form of Christianity considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church. They spoke the Gothic language, which is now extinct. The Ostrogoths also left behind significant architectural and artistic contributions, particularly in Ravenna.

Legacy

The Ostrogoths played a crucial role in the transition from the Roman Empire to the medieval period. Their interactions with the Roman world influenced the development of European culture and politics.

Related Pages

• Goths
• Visigoths
• Theodoric the Great
• Gothic War (535–554)
• Byzantine Empire
• Arianism
• Ravenna