Cambridge Ancient Hi.. - Index of

530 19. italy, a.d. 425,605
security in the north, campaigning against the Rugi. 19 Within Italy, he did
much to ensure the continuation of normal life, and those who enjoyed the
fruits of his government were aristocratic and senatorial clans. Odoacer
had won his position by force of arms, but he maintained a show of legality
by seeking recognition from the eastern emperor. 20 Then, in 486/7, he
miscalculated, and invaded Illyricum at precisely the same time as Illus
raised the banner of revolt against Zeno. For Zeno, this provided a
welcome excuse to restore Italy to direct imperial control and to solve the
problems presented by the Ostrogoths in Pannonia. He gave Theoderic the
Amal, magister militum and patrician, the task of disciplining Odoacer.
Theoderic accepted the task with relish, and late in 488 he and his Gothic
army turned west towards Italy. 21
Ostrogothic successes came swiftly, as Theoderic’s invasion force drove
back and defeated Odoacer’s armies. By the end of 489, Odoacer was
blockaded in Ravenna, where he remained for most of the next four years.
Despite some minor reverses, Theoderic was able to bring Odoacer to a
negotiated surrender, and Ravenna opened its gates to the Ostrogothic
army in October 493. Odoacer plainly expected clemency, but shortly after
his submission he was slain by Theoderic himself, and a bloody purge of
his surviving relatives followed. 22 Meanwhile, Theoderic set about consolidating
his authority in Italy. First, as he had come to Italy under Zeno’s
instructions, some form of eastern recognition was desirable. As soon as
he entered Ravenna, however, the Gothic troops unilaterally proclaimed
Theoderic as their king. This was an honour which, it seems, they conceived
of in purely Gothic terms: Theoderic’s uncle had established Amal leadership
and become king of the Pannonian Goths in the 450s. 23 Nevertheless,
it complicated Theoderic’s dealings with Constantinople. Not until 497/8
did Anastasius recognize Theoderic’s position by sending him royal insignia,
and only then with the insistence that the eastern emperor’s supremacy
should be maintained, even to the extent that his name should be acclaimed
before that of the Gothic king. 24
In Italy itself, however, Theoderic soon acquired unrivalled authority.
This was no inconsiderable achievement, bearing in mind the diverse
groups of peoples under his jurisdiction: Romans, Goths and the followers
of Odoacer. He also managed, as an Arian himself, to secure the allegiance
of a largely Catholic Italy, while also defending minority groups
such as the Jews. 25 From the time he had forged the various Pannonian
Goths and assorted Danubian tribes into the people customarily designated
as the Ostrogoths, Theoderic had shown a genius for uniting seem-
19 Anon. Val. 10.48. 20 Chastagnol (1966); Barnwell (1992) 134–5, 155–6.
21 Heather, Goths and Romans 295–308. 22 Anon. Val. 11.55–6; John. Ant. fr. 214a.
23 Anon. Val. 12.57–8;Jord.Get. 52.268–71; cf. Heather, Goths and Romans 240–2, 311–12.
24 Wolfram (1988) 284–8. 25 Moorhead (1992) 97–100.
Cambridge Histories Online © Cambridge University Press, 2008