The Ostrogoths

The Ostrogoths (489-563AD)

The Ostrogoths or "bright" Goths were the branch of the Goths that were subjected to the Hun army. Upon the withdrawal of the Huns from Europe, the Ostrogoths existed as a powerful Germanic tribe. In 489AD, Theodoric became King of the Ostrogoths. By 493AD, the Ostrogoths had become the sole Barbarian rulers of Italy. Theodoric had an enlightened reign that returned order to Italy, a reign that has been called by some the first Renaissance. National disorder returned once again upon Theodoric's death in 526AD. Finally in 541AD, the Eastern Roman Empire invaded Italy engaging the Ostrogoths for twenty years. The Ostrogoths eventually were defeated in 563AD. [RB] {NR}