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The Fall of Italy: The Ostrogothic Conquest of 491 CE
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In the year 491 CE, Italy, excluding the region of Romagna, fell under the control of the Ostrogoths, marking a significant turning point in the history of the Italian Peninsula and the broader context of the late Roman Empire. This event was part of the larger wave of barbarian invasions and migrations that characterized the decline of the Western Roman Empire.
By the late 5th century, the Western Roman Empire was in a state of collapse. The last Roman emperor in the West, Romulus Augustulus, had been deposed in 476 CE by the Germanic chieftain Odoacer, who then ruled Italy as a king. However, Odoacer's reign was not recognized by the Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno, who viewed him as a usurper.
The Ostrogoths, a Germanic tribe, had been settled in the Balkans under the leadership of their king, Theodoric the Great. Theodoric had served as a foederati (allied soldier) of the Eastern Roman Empire, but tensions between him and Zeno led to a shift in their relationship. Zeno, seeking to rid himself of Theodoric's presence in the East, encouraged him to invade Italy and overthrow Odoacer.
In 488 CE, Theodoric led his Ostrogothic forces into Italy, beginning a campaign that would last for several years. The conflict between Theodoric and Odoacer was brutal and protracted, with battles fought across the Italian Peninsula. By 491 CE, Theodoric had gained control of most of Italy, with the exception of Romagna, which remained under Odoacer's control for a time.
The decisive moment came with the siege of Ravenna, Odoacer's stronghold. The siege lasted for three years, from 490 to 493 CE, and ended with a negotiated settlement. Theodoric and Odoacer agreed to rule Italy jointly, but this arrangement was short-lived. In 493 CE, Theodoric invited Odoacer to a banquet and had him murdered, securing his sole rule over Italy.
With the death of Odoacer, Theodoric established the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy, which would last until the Byzantine reconquest under Emperor Justinian I in the mid-6th century. Theodoric's reign was marked by a policy of cooperation between the Ostrogoths and the Roman population. He sought to preserve Roman institutions and culture while maintaining the distinct identity of the Ostrogothic ruling class.
The Ostrogothic conquest of Italy in 491 CE was a pivotal moment in the transition from the ancient Roman world to the medieval period. It marked the end of Roman political control in the West and the beginning of a new era dominated by Germanic kingdoms. Theodoric's rule, though initially successful in maintaining stability, would eventually give way to further conflict and the eventual Byzantine reconquest, but the impact of the Ostrogothic presence in Italy would be felt for centuries.
This chapter explores the complex interplay of politics, warfare, and cultural change that defined this critical period in Italian and European history.