[gothic-l] Visigothic Navy?

[Bertil Häggman]

Ian,

To my knowledge there was no Visigothic navy.
One explanation might be that the Visigoths
mainly settled in Castile and the inner parts
of Spain. There are a number of relations
of Byzantine fleets arriving at the west coast
and landing troops. But there are no relations
concerning Visigothic naval forces trying to
stop the landings. Parts of western Spain
was also for quite a while in Byzantine hands.

There is also one info on a Frankish fleet
attempting to land forces. The ships were
attacked from land and the landing force
defeated.

There is also a relation of a Visigothic landing
in North Africa. I think it was Ceuta and an
attempt to stop Byzantine forces from
gaining a stronghold in North Africa from
where they could attack Visigothic Spain.

If you by Wittiza mean Witika that would have been
697 to 710 AD. I thought the Byzantines by then
were out of the picture?

Wamba reigned 672 to 680 AD. Yes, actuallly, there is
a mentioning of a royal Visigothic fleet in connection with the
uprising of Paulus. But this is the only mentioning
I have been able to find and there is no info on the
type of ships or how many.

On the Arab fleet used to cross the Strait of Gibraltar
one can presume that the army brought along ships
for the transport, but I don't really know.

Germanically

Bertil


>    Given the recent discussion about Vandalic shipping, I wondered if
> anyone could point me to any sources/books (preferably in English)
> which cover the history of Visigothic navies during the period before
> the Arab conquest.
>
> I seem to remember references to an unexplained naval battle which a
> Gothic noble won against a Byzantine fleet off the coast of Spain
> during the reign of Wittiza & naval operations are mentioned in the
> sources covering Paul's rebellion against Wamba (Julian of Toledo I
> think). Does anyone know of other instances? And do we know what sort
> of ships the Visigoths used?
>
> On a related point - where did the Arab invaders obtain the shipping
> to cross the Straits of Gibralter?



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