Goths

History

These were polyethnic bands of mounted warriors from Northern Europe, known by name to the Romans, who settled near the Black Sea in the C2nd AD. They became divided into Ostrogoths and Visigoths. Despite some territorial disputes, the two groups retained close linguistic ties and names were common to both in many cases. Intermarriages took place to strengthen these links in the Middle Ages.

The Ostrogoths or Eastern Goths (Pannonia, Savia, Northern Italy, Moesia, Adriatic) were conquered by the Huns in 372 but regained their independence in 454. They conquered Italy in 488-93 under Theodoric the Great, who overthrew and killed King Odoacer, establishing an Ostrogothic kingdom with its capital at Ravenna. Theodoric had no strong successor and the Ostrogoths disappeared as a nation when the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian I, reconquered Italy in 535-55.

The Visigoths or Western Goths (Balkans, Italy, France, Spain) migrated to Thrace and raided Greece and Italy under Alaric in 395-410, sacking Rome. Alaric died on the way to invade Sicily in 410. They established a kingdom in southern France, from which they were expelled by the Franks, and moved to Spain, founding a kingdom which was conquered by the Moors in 711.

Gothic Names

Male