Ostrogothic Kingdom
Italy, 493 CE–553 CE.
After Rome fell, the Gothic king Theodoric ruled Italy from Ravenna. Romans and Goths lived under separate laws until the Byzantine Empire reconquered Italy in a long war.
Seat of power: Ravenna
Rulers
Theodoric the Great
King of the Ostrogoths, 493 CE–526 CE
Ruled Italy in the name of the eastern emperor. Goths served as soldiers while Romans ran the civil government, and the Senate kept meeting. He was an Arian Christian who mostly tolerated the Catholic majority.
Portrait of Theodoric the Great: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY 3.0, file
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Culture
- The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna is decorated with gold mosaics.
- Boethius writes The Consolation of Philosophy in prison, in about 524.
- Cassiodorus founds a monastery that copies classical texts.
Picture
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, built as Theodoric's palace church.
Image: Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
