Claudius, Duke of Lusitania facts for kids
Claudius was a brave and successful military leader, known as a dux (which means duke or general) in the ancient region of Lusitania (modern-day Portugal and parts of Spain). He lived in the late 500s and was one of the most important generals for King Reccared I of the Visigoths.
Stopping a Rebellion
In 587, a man named Witteric uncovered a secret plan. Sunna, a bishop from Mérida who followed a different Christian belief called Arianism, was trying to put a person named Segga on the throne instead of King Reccared. Sunna might have also planned to harm the Catholic bishop of Mérida, Masona.
King Reccared sent Claudius to stop this rebellion. Claudius successfully captured Segga. As a punishment for trying to take the throne, Segga's hands were severely injured, and he was sent away to Galicia. Other people involved in the plot lost their property and jobs and were sent into exile.
One of the main rebels, Vagrila, hid in a church. Claudius was asked to hand Vagrila, his family, and his belongings over to the church in Mérida, which he did. However, Bishop Masona later decided to release Vagrila and his family and gave back his property.
A Great Victory
In 589, the Frankish king Guntram sent an army into a region called Septimania. This army was led by a general named Boso and was supporting a rebellion by an Arian archbishop named Athaloc.
King Reccared once again sent Claudius to deal with this threat. Near Carcassonne on the Aude river, Claudius surprised the Frankish army. He completely defeated them, killing about 5,000 soldiers and capturing 2,000, along with their camp.
Isidore of Seville, a famous historian from that time, wrote that "No victory of the Goths in Spain was ever greater or even equal to it." Another writer, John of Biclarum, was even more excited about the victory. He greatly exaggerated the numbers, saying that Claudius, like the biblical hero Gideon, defeated 60,000 Franks with only 300 men. This shows just how impressive Claudius's victory was considered at the time.
