Lecture 3 - Visigoth Iberia Flashcards
what were The “Barbarian” Invasions
The “Barbarian” invasions were not a single event, but of a series of waves
The barbarian invasions were made possible due to a combination of factors which included:
overstretching political instability religious upheaval mercenaries incentives
explain how overstretching made the barbarian invasion possible
At its height the Roman Empire encompassed the totality of the Mediterranean basin plus Britannia and the Galia
(needed lost of resources)
explain how political instability made the barbarian invasion possible
By the 4th century the political crises and the quarrels for power in Rome became more acute
explain how religious upheaval made the barbarian invasion possible
The transformation of Christianity into the religion of the Empire was a polemical (clean) process marked by divisions with other religious groups and among the Christians themselves
(Romans were pretty tolerant of other religions and they upheaved eventually)
explain how mercenaries made the barbarian invasion possible
The high cost of keeping the frontiers of the Empire secure made the Romans rely on the tribes that would eventually turn against them
(learned the ways of war of the romans and learned how to overthrow them)
explain how Incentives made the barbarian invasion possible
Many of those tribes were well aware of the benefits of Roman civilization and sought to profit from the Empire by becoming part of it – At the same time, many of them were facing pressure on their Eastern flank by other tribes (and more particularly the Huns)
The Visigoths under Alarico were able to reach Rome and other parts of the Adriatic Sea and the Balkans between when
401-410
when did the visigoths move to hispania
only after the death of Alarico
were the visigoths the first to arrive in the I.P
no
who was included in The first wave and the brake-up of Hispania (before the visigoths)
Suebi, Vandals, and Alans
A series of Northern tribes –many of which had been used by the Romans as mercenaries - cross the river Rhin on 31 December 406. Among them:
the Suebi (A Germanic tribe) the Vandals (A tribe of Scandinavian origin) the Alans (An Iranian nomadic pastoral people of the Caucasus region).
the suede, vandals and alans try to establish themselves where
in the Galias (Roman Gaul).
aka france
As part of his bid to become Emperor, does Maximus of Hispania allow for the tribes to establish themselves
agrees to let them establish themselves in the Iberian Peninsula in 411
who was Maximus of Hispania
a rebellious general
did The Cantabrian mountain range remain part of rome
(populated by Cantabri and Vasques since pre-Roman times becomes fully separated from Rome)
where did Rome control during the first wave and break up by the tribes
Rome only controlled the north-East of the Iberian Peninsula
how did the tribes get expelled
A Tragic Pact: Shortly after having allowed the Vandals, Suebi, and Alans establish themselves in the Iberian Peninsula, Emperor Honorius reaches a pact with the most powerful of the Germanic tribes –the Visigoths- to expel the Vandals, the Suebi, and the Alans from the Iberian Peninsula in exchange for food and territory in the Aquitania Seconda (near Bordeaux)
did the visigoths destroy the tribes
The Visigoths destroy the Alans and part of the Vandals between 416 and 418, but they stop the campaign to take control of Toulouse (Southern France)
where was the visigoth capital
Toulouse (Southern France) where they will establish their capital
The remaining Vandals would eventually move where
to Northern Africa were they will form a Kingdom that will attack Rome itself in 455
did the Suevi survive
The Suevi were able to keep an extend their territory in the Northwest and created a Kingdom that challenged the power of Rome and the Visigoths (who had become a kingdom federated with Rome) in the Iberian Peninsula
The destruction of the Suebi and the creation of the Visigoth Kingdom of Toledo (entire slide)
The defeat of the Visigoths by the Francs: The Visigoths were expelled from their capital in Toulouse and most of the Gallia by the Francs in 508
The emergence of the Visigoth Kingdom of Toledo: After a period of crisis, they moved the capital to Toledo – During the Kingdom of Leovigild from 568 to 586 they are able to attack and destroy the Suebi in the Northewest and conquer the totality of the Iberian Peninsula except for the South West that will be occupied by Bizantium
A political and religious conversion: Under Leovigild’s son, Recadero (586-601), the Visigoths convert from Arrianism to Catholicism (more on this later)
A unified kingdom: Under King Suintilla (621-631) , the Visigoths expulse the remaining Byzantines from Southern Spain – the totality of the Peninsula was now under they control
An Unruly Nobility: Visigoth Kings tended to succeed their fathers or close relatives on the throne until the mid 6th Century – After the conversion to Catholicism, the Visigothic monarchy took on a completely elective character – This weakened the central power of the King and led to rebellions/treasons
The beginning of the Muslim conquest: In early 711, Muslim forces disembarked in Gibraltar and the conquest of Hispania by the Ummayad began
But before we discuss the beginnings of Arab rule over the Peninsula, let’s talk about… What was the contribution of the Visigoths to the history and culture of Spain?
explain The defeat of the Visigoths by the Francs
The Visigoths were expelled from their capital in Toulouse and most of the Gallia by the Francs in 508
