Building the Kingship: War and the Rise of Warrior Nobility in the Gothic Society (395-418)
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The present work intends to analyze the formation process of the Gothic vkingship during the years 382-418, at the time of the Great Migration of the Visigoths. The emergence of figures like Alaric I, Athawulf, Sigeric and Walia represents the validation of such a process in which a network of relationships between Gothic leaders and Roman generals was crucial to the rise of Gothic kingship, including Goth chieftains and princes at military service of the Roman Empire, which achieved high commands and ranks in the Roman Army. Drawing from theoretical considerations from the fields of Military History and Anthropology, the research analyses the transformations which were responsible for important changes concerning the figure of the king which occurred during the period in question. At this moment, the figure of the king changed from a purely military nature to a political one, reaching the most prominent position at the top of the Gothic society. As a result of this process, the king acquired the authority to lead the Visigoths in their search for a place, a new “Gothia” like the one of years before the Second Gothic War (376-382). This quest came to a successful ending with the foundation of the Visigothic kingdom of Toulouse, thanks to the advantages of the imperial settlement of 418 in Gaul.
Author: Moita, Sandro Teixeira
Language: Portuguese
Subfield: History
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7120878023