Visigoths

Corona de (29049230050)

305 CE, Europe

Gutthiuda

Visigoth migrations

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Alaric entering Athens

Europe and the Near East at 476 AD

Visigoths were a branch of the Goths, a Germanic tribe, who played a major role in the history of Western Europe from the 3rd to the 8th century. The Visigoths emerged from the Gothic communities that had invaded the Roman Empire starting in 376 and settled in what is now Spain and Portugal in the early 5th century. Their kingdom lasted until it was conquered by the Moors in 711.

Origins and Migration

The Goths are believed to have originated in southern Scandinavia and migrated southwards, reaching the Black Sea area by the 3rd century. The tribe later split into two groups: the Visigoths, who moved westward, and the Ostrogoths, who stayed in the east. The Visigoths first came into significant contact with the Roman Empire when they crossed the Danube in 376, seeking refuge from the Huns. This migration was initially allowed by the Romans under certain conditions, but tensions and mistreatment led to the outbreak of war.

Relations with Rome

The Visigoths are perhaps best known for their role in the decline of the Western Roman Empire. Their most famous confrontation with Rome was the Battle of Adrianople in 378, where the Visigoths decisively defeated the Roman army. This battle is often marked as a significant factor in the decline of the Roman Empire. Over time, the Visigoths alternated between being foes and foederati (allied mercenaries) of Rome, often serving in the Roman army against other barbarian tribes and even playing roles in Roman civil wars.

Settlement in Aquitaine

In the early 5th century, under the leadership of King Alaric I, the Visigoths sacked Rome in 410. After Alaric's death, they moved into southern Gaul (modern France) and northern Spain, where they established a kingdom with Toulouse as its capital. This kingdom's boundaries fluctuated over time due to conflicts with the Franks, Burgundians, and other tribes, as well as internal disputes.

Kingdom in Hispania

By the early 6th century, the Visigoths had moved their capital to Toledo, in what is now Spain. This marked the beginning of a period of consolidation and expansion of their kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula. The Visigothic Kingdom is noted for its attempts to unify the various peoples within its borders, including Romans, Goths, and others, through law. The Code of Euric and later the Visigothic Code (or Liber Judiciorum) were significant achievements in this regard.

Religion

Initially, the Visigoths were Arian Christians, which put them at odds with the predominantly Chalcedonian Christian population of the Roman Empire. This religious difference was a source of tension and conflict. However, in the late 6th century, King Reccared I converted to Chalcedonian Christianity, leading to the gradual conversion of his people and the integration of the Visigothic and Roman populations.

Decline and Fall

The Visigothic Kingdom faced numerous challenges in the 7th and early 8th centuries, including internal divisions, economic difficulties, and external threats. The final blow came in 711 when Muslim forces from North Africa, known as the Moors, invaded the Iberian Peninsula. The Visigothic king, Roderic, was defeated and killed at the Battle of Guadalete, leading to the rapid collapse of Visigothic rule in most of Spain.

Legacy

The Visigoths left a lasting legacy in Spain and Portugal, from architectural remnants to the Visigothic Code, which influenced later Spanish legal codes. Their history is a testament to the complexity of the transition from the Roman world to the medieval European order.