Euric facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Euric
King of the Visigoths
Imaginary portrait of Euric by Manuel Rodríguez de Guzmán. Oil on canvas (1855)
Reign	466 – 28 December 484
Predecessor	Theodoric II
Successor	Alaric II
Born	c. 420
Died	28 December 484(484-12-28) (aged 63–64)
Spouse	Ragnagild
Issue	Alaric II
Dynasty	Balt
Father	Theodoric I
Religion	Arianism

Euric (born around 420 – died December 28, 484) was a powerful king of the Visigoths. He was the son of Theodoric I. Euric became king in 466 after his brother, Theodoric II, died. He ruled until his own death in 484. Sometimes, he is also known as Euric II.

Euric's Reign as King

Euric made Toulouse his capital city. He took over a large part of the Aquitaine area in Gaul (modern-day France). This region had been controlled by the Visigoths since 415. Over many years, the Visigoths had slowly gained more land. They took advantage of the weak Roman government. Euric himself led attacks, like the sieges of Clermont in 475 and 476. He also expanded his kingdom deep into Hispania (modern-day Spain and Portugal).

When Euric became king, he had to fight other Visigothic leaders. He won these battles, uniting the Visigothic people for the first time. He used the problems of the Roman Empire to his advantage. He pushed the Suebi people into the northwest of Iberia. By 476, when the Western Roman Empire officially ended, Euric controlled almost all of the Iberian peninsula.

Around 469 or 470, Euric defeated the British king Riothamus at Déols. This victory helped him expand his kingdom even further north. His lands possibly reached as far as the Loire River. In 471, Euric's army also defeated a Roman army near Arles. During this battle, three Roman counts and Anthemiolus, the son of the Roman emperor Anthemius, were killed.

Previous Visigothic kings had officially ruled as representatives of the Roman emperor. But Euric was the first to declare that his kingdom was completely independent. In 475, he forced the Western Emperor Julius Nepos to recognize his full independence. In return, Euric gave back the Provence region of Gaul. After this, the Roman citizens living in Hispania swore loyalty to Euric. They recognized him as their true king. In the same year, Clermont-Ferrand surrendered to Euric after a long siege. Its bishop, Sidonius Apollinaris, then asked for peace.

Euric was known as one of the most educated Visigothic kings. He was the first to write down his people's laws in a formal way. This collection of laws is called the Code of Euric. It was probably created around 476. This code put into writing the traditional laws that had been remembered by special experts. Euric also hired many Gallo-Roman nobles, like Leo of Narbonne, to work in his court.

When Euric died naturally in 484, his kingdom was very large. It included about a third of modern France and almost all of Iberia. Only the region of Galicia (ruled by the Suebi) was not under his control.

Images for kids

See also

In Spanish: Eurico para niños