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The Fall of the Gepids and the Rise of the Avars (567 CE)
In the year 567 CE, a pivotal shift occurred in the power dynamics of Central and Eastern Europe as the Gepid Kingdom fell to the Avars, marking the end of one era and the beginning of another. This event was part of the broader migrations and conflicts that characterized the late antique period, as various barbarian groups vied for dominance in the wake of the Roman Empire's decline.
The Gepids were a Germanic tribe that had established a kingdom in the Carpathian Basin (modern-day Hungary and Romania) after the collapse of the Hunnic Empire in the 5th century. They were one of the many successor states to emerge in the region, and for a time, they played a significant role in the politics of the Danube frontier. However, their position was precarious, as they were surrounded by powerful neighbors, including the Lombards to the west and the Byzantine Empire to the south.
The Avars were a nomadic people of uncertain origin, possibly stemming from Central Asia. They arrived in Europe in the mid-6th century, fleeing pressure from other nomadic groups such as the Göktürks. The Avars quickly established themselves as a formidable force, leveraging their expertise in cavalry warfare and their ability to form alliances with local tribes.
By the 560s, tensions between the Gepids and the Lombards had escalated. The Gepids sought to expand their territory, but this brought them into direct conflict with the Lombards, who were also looking to consolidate their power. Sensing an opportunity, the Avars entered into an alliance with the Lombards against the Gepids.
In 567 CE, the combined forces of the Lombards and Avars launched a decisive campaign against the Gepid Kingdom. The Gepids, already weakened by internal strife and external pressures, were unable to withstand the assault. Their capital, Sirmium (modern-day Sremska Mitrovica in Serbia), fell, and the Gepid Kingdom was effectively destroyed. The Avars absorbed much of the Gepid territory, while the Lombards, fearing the growing power of the Avars, chose to migrate southward into Italy.
The fall of the Gepids marked the end of their prominence in the region and paved the way for the Avars to establish a powerful khaganate that would dominate Central Europe for the next two centuries. The Avars became a major threat to the Byzantine Empire, launching raids deep into the Balkans and even besieging Constantinople in 626 CE.
The event also had significant implications for the Lombards, who, after their migration to Italy, established the Lombard Kingdom, which would play a crucial role in the history of the Italian peninsula.
In summary, the year 567 CE was a turning point in European history, as the fall of the Gepids to the Avars reshaped the political landscape of the region and set the stage for the rise of new powers in the early medieval period.