The Goths. The Goths were a germanic confederation of tribes, that came from Northern Europe, probably Scandinavia, and spread to the rest of Europe, mostly dominated by Rome. They played a major role in the fall of the Roman Empire, and also in giving origin to what we call the Middle Ages. The Goths divided themselves in two branches: The Visigoths, very present in Western Europe, mainly today's France and Iberian Peninsula, and the Ostrogoths, in Eastern Europe, and in Italy. The Goths started pushing their way into the Roman Empire, just like many other germanic tribes. They turned themselves to the West, because of the invasions of the Huns, led by Attila, who pushed them away from Eastern European territories, where they were settled. These lands included the Danube river area, and where linked to the Ural Mountains. Other territories went from the Black to the Baltic sea. The Visigoths were both allies and enemies of Rome, depending on the circumstances and on the periods. The fact is, Rome was no longer strong enough, in its last two centuries of life, - 3rd to 5th centuries - to fight all the Barbaric invaders. So, ironically, the Visigoths became the most "Roman" germanic tribe, so to speak. They were the least barbarian and more civilized, at the eyes of the Romans. The Visigoths were allowed inside the Roman Empire, as imposed allies - Rome had no other choice. The Visigoths inclusively fought side by side with Roman forces against other germanic invaders, like the Franks. Eventually, tensions started to become higher, within this forced coabitation, inside the Roman Empire. and rebellions were inevitable. In 410, the Visigoths sacked Rome, under the leadership of king Alaric, for the first time in centuries. The western part of the Empire was crumbling down, due to the invasions and continuous attacks of several germanic tribes, and also the Huns. And the fact that the Roman Army itself was filled with soldiers and mercenaries of germanic origin is also a relevant factor. When Rome fell, in 467, the Visigoths controlled a large portion of Western Europe. Including Hispania (Iberian Peninsula) and Aquitaine, a large territory of today's France. But the Franks expelled them from Gaul/France. So, the Goths got the Iberian Peninsula, and formed their own Kingdom there. The Suebi, another Germanic tribe, had their own small Kingdom in Hispania, but the Visigoths subdued them, and occupied the remaining territory. The Basques were also subdued. At this time, the Visigoths were already converted to Christianity. This same Visigothic Kingdom would be destroyed by the Muslim invaders, in the 8th century, who occupied the Iberian Peninsula. The fact that only noblemen were allowed to carry weapons, played an important role in the fast and easy victory of the Muslim armies. The Visigoths as a political, cultural and unified entity ceased to exist. But the Christian resistance, mainly noblemen who allegedly were the successors of the old Visigoths, would eventually give origin to the Kingdoms of Portugal and Spain, and beat the Muslims, in what we call the war of "Reconquista". - "Reconquest"- Which endured for centuries. When the Visigothic Kingdom was still a reality, in Iberian Peninsula, an important juridical document, the Visigothic Code, was produced. It was mainly a gathering of important norms from Roman Law, but it also had some particular Germanic/Gothic elements. This code remained an important source of Law for Christian citizens, and following kingdoms of Portugal and Spain, even after the Gothic Kingdom was over. Until today, some norms, regarding inheritance and heirs, have origin in the Visigothic Code, in Portugal and Spain. Regarding the Ostrogoths: Their most important and interesting figure is King Theodoric. He ruled over the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy, who followed the fall of the Roman Empire. Theodoric was, in fact, very fond of Rome, and its civilization, and he tried to keep Italy unified, as well as promoting culture, teaching, schools. The Bizantine Empire - The successor of East Roman Empire - however, invaded the Ostrogothic Kingdom, and Italy was imersed in a violent civil war that lasted decades. In the end, neither of them would become rulers of Italy. The Ostrogoths became "extint", as well, in the 6th century. The Goths assimilated lots of aspects of the Roman culture. They also adopted Christianity very quickly, and so, there are no traces of Germanic Heathen Gods and culture, within the territories in which the Goths built their Kingdoms. Both the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths. This may disappoint a lot of people. But the Middle Ages are a fusion between Roman culture, and Germanic tribal culture, as well. A theme to be developed in further chapters.

• published: 01 Feb 2015
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