The Goth people had numerous leaders throughout their lengthy history. Many of the Goth’s accomplishments, battles and other ventures could not have been possible without three of their most influential leaders: Fritigern, Alaric and Theodoric. Each of these leaders’ triumphs and failures shaped the substantial history of the Goth people, each in a different way. Fritigern paved the way for rebellion. Alaric tirelessly revolted against the Romans until he captured it. Theodoric “The Great” was both tactful and tolerant in his endeavors and as a ruler. Fritigern was one of the earlier leaders of the Visigoths and began a Gothic tradition of rebelling against unjust and incapable forces. When the Huns forced the Goth’s from their lands, they went to the Romans for protection and new lands to live on. (Gardner, Barbarians) The Romans agreed to help the Goths but did not do much to better their lives, not even letting them past their gates. (Gardner, Barbarians) The Romans barely fed or assisted the Goths in any way and even took some of them as slaves. (Gardner, Barbarians) This brutal treatment from Roman authorities made for apoplectic Goths, who were no longer willing to tolerate these harsh conditions. Fritigern led the rebellion against the Romans, most famously at the Battle of Adrianople. (“Battle of Adrianople”) Valens led the Roman army on foot and suffered a great defeat against the Gothic horsemen. (“Battle of Adrianople”) Fritigern and the Goths reportedly massacred approximately 40,000 Romans during the battle. (“Battle of Adrianople”) “It was a major victory of barbarian horsemen over Roman infantry and marked the beginning of serious Germanic inroads into Roman territory” (“Battle of Adrianople”). This Gothic v... ... middle of paper ... ...arians." Barbarians: The Goths. The History Channel. THC, 19 Jan. 2004. Television. Lenski, Noel. "The Gothic Civil War and the Date of the Gothic Conversion." Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 36.1 (1995): 51-87. ProQuest. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. M., R. W. "Alaric." Late Antiquity: A Guide to the Postclassical World. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1999. Credo Reference. Web. 17 February 2014. Schmandt, R. H. "Goths." New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 6. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 369. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 17 Feb. 2014 Schmandt, R. H. "Theodoric the Great." New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 13. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 881-882. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. "Theodoric the Great (C. 445 - 526)." The Macmillan Encyclopedia. Basingstoke: Macmillan Publishers Ltd, 2003. Credo Reference. Web. 17 February 2014.
Einhard, in his account of Charlemagne, and Ibn Battuta, in his account of Mansa Sulaiman, give witness to the way these two kings ruled their lands and provide an insight on how culture has an effect on people’s views of their leaders. Although each one lived in different cultures, each ruler embodied similar characteristics, such as the influence of religion on their realms. However, there are several distinct differences as well, and each narrative contains cultural bias that cannot be ignored. Overall, each account thoroughly analyzes each ruler and infuses their observations with the culture of the time, which is integral in order to gain an accurate depiction of who these men were.
Emperor Justinian is identified as one of the greatest Caesars to ever rule in Europe during his reign from 527-565, during this he succeeded in reviving Roman Authority throughout his growing Byzantium Empire . As Emperor of the Byzantium Empire in the sixth and seventh century he conquered many parts of Europe restoring the control of the Roman Authority once again if only for a while . This essay will point out the extent in which Justinian succeeded Roman Authority. Although many depictions that can be argued, closer examination can be shown that through huge military successes, Architectural activities that changed the Empires value and enhanced Constantinople as the centre of the Christian World, and the legal work of the ‘Code of Justinian’ helped Justinian to revive Roman Authority. In the seventh century saw the collapse of the Byzantium Empire, which was defeated and taken over by the Ottoman-Turk Empire from the East of Constantinople. This Essay will access the reasons for decline of such a powerful empire, hit with the ‘Justinian Plague’ and eventually deteriorating after Justinian death . This saw the end to any last element of any Roman Authority in Europe.
A significant political issue during Justinian and Theodora’s reign that they were both involved in was the Nika revolt. This was when taxpayers got very frustrated and threatened to overrule the government. In a panic, the government encouraged Justinian to flee so he wouldn’t be killed, while Theodora advocated him to stay. With Theodora’s pressing, Justinian listened to her, stood his ground, and kept in control of the government. Their combined bravery and determinatio...
When comparing the epic poem of The Song of Roland to the romantic literature of Ywain, the differences between the early medieval period and the high medieval period become evident. Both The Song of Roland and Ywain depicts the societies from which each story derives its fundamental characteristics. Through close observation, one is able to see the shifts in customs and mentality that make the move from the epic to the romance possible. In his chapter 'From Epic to Romance', R.W. Southern shows how this transformation manifests itself through changing ecclesiastical and secular thoughts and feelings.
Belisarius is known as one of the “Last of the Romans” because he perfectly embodied the best of the values of the Roman Empire (Mark 1). The general won his first laurels in 530 CE, after a great victory at Dara against the Sāsānian Empire. This battle occurred because hostilities between the empires had resurfaced in the previous competitions for control of the trade routes to Central Asia and India. The empires had lived in peace for 150 years before these trade battles resumed (Durant 108). Belisarius rose above as the hero of war, despite his defeat the following year (Barker 1). The Nika revolt broke out in Constantinople in January 532, and he successfully put it out by massacring the rioters. During this time, he married an old friend of the empress Theodora, Antonia, but shortly after, she passed away (Barker 1). Also in 532, Justinian was able to make peace with Persia by paying Khrosru Anushirvan, while Belisarius prepared to win back Africa...
The pessimism of the poor Danes was palpable. They had even despaired of appealing to the Christian God and had reverted to offering sacrifice to their heathen idols. Grendel had killed 30 warriors the first night and had taken even more the next night. But their pessimism is dispelled by one Beowulf who is ready and willing to sacrifice himself to repay the debt of Ecgtheow, Beowulf’s father, to Hrothgar. This Geat warrior possesses almost miraculous qualities: “He was the strongest of men a...
It is said that these people, “the Goths,” originated from southern Scandinavia, crossed to the southern shore of the Baltic Sea, and then migrated to the Black sea in their search to find a stable home ("Goth." Britannica Concise Encyclopedia). Yet, they were unable to find a place to call home. They searched high and low for solace and peace, and in their search they were discriminated against and victimized, until they retaliated and became the oppressors. Situations where a lot of people of one culture have immigrated into a different country because they also cannot find a place to call home and or do not want their children to grow up in certain circumstances have repeated themselves throughout history and persecution and intimidation on these immigrants still occurs today.
Emperor Nero, infamously known as one of the most malevolent, oppressive, and tyrannical leader throughout history, was the last ruler of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. He was born outside Rome in Antium and his mother married his great uncle, Emperor Claudius, in order for her son to be the next Emperor of Rome. It wasn’t apparent that her son was to become one of the most feared and cruel leaders in Roman history from 54 CE to 68 CE. By examining his achievements and failures as an emperor, his influences and changes over the entire economic, political and social spectrum are revealed.
...ore, the ultimate political success of these leaders appears inevitable considering the position allotted orthodox Christianity, subordinating paganism and Arianism, by the authors, as a result of their religious preferences. While Clovis and Constantine used their conversions to boost their political might, Gundobad clearly did not. Moreover, it seems likely that the military triumphs of Clovis and Constantine contributed at least as much to their political successes as their conversions did. Perhaps Christianity benefited more from them than they from it since the relatively unified Christian kingdoms they forged provided a fertile bed from which Christianity could grow. Furthermore, it appears that, taking into account their actions following their conversions, Constantine and Gundobad, like Clovis, were relatively genuine in their dedication to Christianity.
Camille, Michael. Gothic Art: Glorious Visions. Upper Saddle River (NJ): Prentice Hall, 1996. 12. Print.
The The word ‘Goth’ is originally from a German tribe and has come to mean. ‘barbarian’ and later known as ‘Gothic’. In Gothic Literature certain features are expected to be added. These are supernatural events, have villains. and hero characters, strange weather, horror, mystery and death.
“Resolving the 'Double Curse' of the Pagan Hoard in Beowulf.” Explicator, Spring 2008, Vol. 66 Issue
The slow disappearance of Rome as a major power and the subsequent invasions of foreign tribes led to what is called the Dark Ages. Economic issues and high military costs as a result of war with Persia in the third century plagued Rome, leading to increased taxes and a decline in the landowning class.1 With the splitting of the Roman Empire under Diocletian in 286, the eastern and western halves slowly grew apart, failed to cooperate, and fought over resources and territory.2 The strength of the eastern empire actually encouraged barbarian tribes to invade the dwindling, unfortified cities of the western empire.3 These tribes included the Ostrogoths, the Alans, the Vandals, and the Visigoths, who viciously sacked Rome in 410.4 After Rome’s fall, the period called the Dark Ages began, a time of supposed violence, i...
Jacobsen, Aaron H. Art and Architecture of the Middle Ages. Barbarian Art of Christian Europe, Romanesque Art, Gothic Art.
It is a fact that Beowulf’s “superman figure” and warrior character had a strong influence on his efforts over what he was trying to achieve. Beowulf’s biggest concern was to see the Germanic society taken over by Christian missionaries who had been seeking to create a new culture out of the Germanic culture. On one hand, Beowulf was trying to strive for community, while on the other hand Christianity was trying to convert the Germanic society into a different and an “individual-based” culture.