[gothic-l] Re: the Thuringians

[Andreas Schwarcz]

On 20 Nov 2002 at 16:31, faltin2001 wrote:

>
> 
> 
> 
> Yes, a complicated and probably in part fragile system of marital 
> alliances. I wonder if these alliances reflect different 'statuses' 
> of the various kingdoms. Hence, the Franks were the most powerful 
> threat to the Ostrogoths. Hence, Theoderic himself would enter a 
> marriage alliance with Clodewig's daughter to ensure stability. Other 
> female relatives were married off to less powerful kings that were 
> either already supportive (Thuringians, Visigoths) or at least 
> potential allies (Burgundians, Vandals). Peoples like the Alamanni 
> and the 'emerging' Bavarians were not included in this system of 
> marital alliances because they were still insignificant (Bavarians) 
> and/or weakened without central royal leadership (Alamanni), but at 
> any rate already under some form of Ostrogothic protectorate. The 
> relationship with the Heruls seems to stand out, because the link 
> with the Heruls was strengthened by making Rodulf, the king of the 
> Heruls, son-in-arms of Theoderic. I wonder if that was a special 
> honour for a significant ally or if it was a lesser degree of honour, 
> or if this had simply practical reasons - i.e. Rodulf already 
> married, no female relative left?
> 
Dear Dirk,
to some of your questions the sources will not give us any answer. But we must avoid 
judging the importance of these alliances from the hindsight, we must see them in the 
political context of their time. In 493 the Franks wewre not yet the most powerful realm 
north of the Alps and clovis was not yet baptized, whereas his sister (not his daughter) 
probably already was and Clovis was already married. That will have been the main 
reason for Theodoric's own marriage. And the Visigoths and the Vandals were in the 
Nineties of the fifth century surely not less powerful than the Ostrogoths, who had to 
consolidate their hold in Italy against a hostile Emperor in the East. The reason why 
Roduulf was not bound by  a marriage, but by a Germanic custom of adoption by 
arms, may have been that he was still a heathen. But we must remember that 
Theodoric himself was honoured in the same way the emperor Zenon in 484 AD, so it 
certainly was at least as honourable and important as a marriage bond.
Kind regards
                Andreas
 Ao.Univ.Prof.Dr.Andreas Schwarcz
Institut für österreichische Geschichtsforschung
Universität Wien
Dr.Karl Lueger-Ring 1
A-1010 Wien
Österreich
Tel.0043/1/42-77/272-16
Fax 0043/142-77/92-72



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