Group

Ostrogoths, Realms of the

State Defunct 388 CE – 493 CE

The Ostrogoths (Latin: Ostrogothi or Austrogothi) are a branch of the Goths (the other branch being the Visigoths), a Germanic tribe who develops a vast empire north of the Black Sea in the 3rd century CE and, in the late 5th century, under Theodoric the Great, establishes a Kingdom in Italy.Invading southward from the Baltic Sea, the Ostrogoths, at the time known as the Greuthungi, build up a huge empire stretching from the Dniester to the Volga river and from the Black Sea to the Baltic shores.

The Ostrogoths are probably literate in the 3rd century, and their trade with the Romans is highly developed.

Their Danubian kingdom reaches its zenith under King Ermanaric, who is said to have committed suicide at an old age when the Huns attacked his people and subjugated them about 370.After their subjugation by the Huns, little is heard of the Ostrogoths for about 80 years, after which they reappear in Pannonia on the middle Danube River as federates of the Romans.

However, a pocket remains behind in the Crimea when the bulk of them moved to central Europe, and these Crimean Ostrogoths exist until at least the 16th century.

After the collapse of the Hun empire after the Battle of Nedao (453), the Ostrogoths under Theodoric the Great first move to Moesia (c. 475–488) and later conquer the Italian Kingdom of the German warrior Odoacer.

Theodoric becomes King of the Ostrogothic Kingdom in 493 and dies in 526.

A period of instability then ensues, tempting the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian to declare war on the Ostrogoths in 535 in an effort to restore the former western provinces of the Roman Empire.

Initially, the Byzantines are successful, but under the leadership of Totila, the Goths reconquer most of the lost territory until Totila's death at the Battle of Taginae.

The war lasts for almost 20 years and caused enormous damage and depopulation of Italy.

The remaining Ostrogoths are absorbed into the Lombards who established a Kingdom in Italy in 567 CE.

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Moran, J. (n.d.). Ostrogoths, Realms of the. History Atlas. Retrieved 19 September 2026, from https://www.historyatlas.com/groups/ostrogoths-realms-of-the/

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