Walia, Visigothic Chieftan
(-418)
Alaric I, Visigothic Chieftan
(Est 370-410)
Theodoric I, Visigothic Chieftan
(Abt 395-451)
Unnamed of the Visigoths
(-)
Euric, Visigothic Chieftan
(Aft 435-484)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
Ragnahild

Euric, Visigothic Chieftan

  • Born: After 435
  • Married: Abt 458
  • Died: 28 Dec 484, Arles, Bouches-Du-Rhone, Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur, France

  Research Notes:

Iordanes names (in order) "Friderichum et Eurichum, Retemerim et Himnerith" as four of the sons of "Theoderido", specifying that their father took his two older sons "Thorismud et Theodericum maiores natu" when he fought at the battle of the Catalaunian Fields, dated to 451.

He was elected to succeed in 466 as EURIC King of the Visigoths. Wolfram refers to the gift to his mother in [466/67] of a bowl inscribed with verses by Sidonius which refer to her son, and speculates that King Euric was about 26 years old when he assumed power. Iordanes records that Euric was suspected of involvement in the death of Theoderic. He expanded Visigoth controlled territory to the north and south of the Pyrenees, achieving substantial control over the Iberian Peninsula with the exception of Galicia. The Chronicon Albeldense records that “Euricus” devastated “Lusitaniam” and captured “Pampilonam et Cæsaraugustam”, and also was the first to promulgate laws for the Goths. Iordanes records that Euric captured Auvergne. Emperor Anthemius conceded Auvergne to King Euric in 475, in return for Provence which the Visigoths had captured two years earlier but which was recaptured by Euric in 476. King Euric proclaimed the Visigothic monarchy as an independent state in south-western France in 476, after the deposition of Emperor Romulus "Augustulus", last Roman Emperor, by the Ostrogoths. Wolfram suggests that the Visigothic kingdom did not de jure separate itself from the empire, although it is not clear what "empire" remained after the overthrow of the last Roman emperor. He made peace with Odovacar, the Ostrogoth King of Italy, agreeing the Alps as the border between the two kingdoms. The Franks attacked Visigothic territory in south-west France in the 490s, particularly Saintes and Bordeaux, which probably encouraged Visigothic emigration to Spain. According to Gregory of Tours, Euric King of the Goths crossed from Spain and persecuted Christians in Gaul, although this statement appears inconsistent with Visigothic expansion being in the other direction during Euric's reign. During the reign of King Euric, Visigothic legal statutes, known as codex Euricianus, were first committed to writing.

He died a natural death, unlike all his predecessors. The Chronicon Albeldense records that “Euricus” reigned for 26 years and died “Arelate” under Emperor Zeno. The Chronica Regum Visigotthorum records that “Euricus” reigned for 15, otherwise 17, years. 1

  Marriage Information:

Euric married Ragnahild.

Sources


1 Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, Medlands, Euric.


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