Eutharic facts for kids

Eutharic Cillica was an Ostrogoth prince from Spain. He lived in the early 500s. He became a Roman Consul, which was a very important official position. He was also called "son in weapons" (filius per arma) by the Byzantine emperor Justin I.

Eutharic was the son-in-law of Theoderic the Great, the powerful Ostrogoth king. Theoderic planned for Eutharic to become king after him. However, Eutharic died in 522 AD at age 42, before he could take the throne.

Theoderic said Eutharic was from the royal Amali family of the Goths. The marriage between Eutharic and Theoderic's daughter, Amalasuintha, was meant to bring the Gothic kingdoms together. It would also help Theoderic create a lasting family rule in Italy.

During his year as consul in 519, relations with the Eastern Roman Empire got much better. A big split between the Eastern and Western Christian churches, called the Acacian Schism, also ended. Eutharic was a Roman statesman and soldier. But he was also an Arian Christian, whose beliefs were different from most Catholics. As consul, he followed Theoderic's policy of being fair to Jewish people. This upset some local Catholics who were not as tolerant. After some synagogues were burned in Ravenna, Eutharic supported the Jewish community. This was reported with anger in a historical record from that time.

After Eutharic died, his son Athalaric became the Ostrogoth king for a short time. But Athalaric died at 18. Eutharic's wife, Amalasuintha, stayed in Italy. She was later killed by her cousin Theodahad in 535.

Early Life and Family Connections

Eutharic was born around 480 AD. He came from a noble Ostrogoth family known as the Amali line. His family tree was traced back through many famous ancestors. Eutharic grew up in Spain. People said he was "strong in wisdom and valor and health of body." Being called a "son in arms" to Emperor Justin I might mean he spent some of his early life as a soldier.

Theoderic the Great paid special attention to Eutharic. This raised Eutharic's standing in both the Gothic and Roman worlds. They were distantly related through a shared ancestor named Hermanric. Hermanric was an Ostrogoth chief who ruled a large area north of the Black Sea. Eutharic was a descendant of Hermanric. Theoderic was a descendant of Hermanric's older brother.

By the late 400s, Theoderic was the king of the Ostrogoths. He ruled from Ravenna in Italy and was a close friend of the Roman Emperor Zeno. Theoderic wanted to create a strong family line to rule after him. However, his marriage had only given him a daughter, Amalasuintha. So, Theoderic needed to find a son-in-law with a family history as strong as his own. His search for Gothic royal heirs led him to Spain. There, he found Eutharic, who was believed to be the last heir of a related Amali family branch.

Some newer studies suggest that Theoderic might have made up Eutharic's Amali ancestry. This would have helped Theoderic make his own family line seem more important.

At Theoderic's Royal Court

In 515 AD, Eutharic was called by Theoderic the Great. He moved to the Ostrogothic court in Ravenna, Italy. There, he married Amalasuintha, Theoderic's daughter. Theoderic hoped this marriage would create a lasting connection between the Ostrogoths and Visigoths. Theoderic also named Eutharic as the person who would become king after him.

While in Italy, Eutharic played an important part in Theoderic's kingdom. He had experience in royal courts and could serve in the government. Romans respected him for his generosity and grand style. However, Catholic writers of the time said that Eutharic was not as tolerant as his father-in-law. They described him as a "bigoted Arian," meaning he strongly favored his Arian Christian beliefs.

Becoming a Roman Consul

Cassiodorus, a famous writer, praised Eutharic during his time as consul.

Since 498, Theoderic had the right to choose the Western candidate for consul each year. But he could only choose a Roman citizen. To help Eutharic become consul in 519, Emperor Justin I himself nominated Eutharic. This was a special favor to Theoderic.

The nomination worked, and in January 519, Eutharic became the Western Consul. Emperor Justin I made Eutharic a Roman citizen and called him a "son in arms." He also gave Eutharic the higher position of senior consul. This showed Justin's desire to improve relations with Theoderic. Reports say there were "magnificent shows of wild beasts from Africa" during the celebrations. A visiting diplomat was "amazed at the riches given to the Goths and the Romans."

During this time, a famous writer named Cassiodorus praised Eutharic in the Senate. He compared Eutharic to great consuls from the past. Cassiodorus wrote a short history to congratulate Eutharic. This history focused on Eutharic's high civilian honor, not on military wins, which was unusual for Gothic nobles. Eutharic's time as consul was seen as a time of good fortune for the Western Roman Empire. In March 519, the Acacian Schism, which had divided the Eastern and Western Christian churches for 35 years, finally ended. Eutharic's year as consul was described as a "bright promise for the Ostrogothic kingdom."

However, a Catholic historical record from that time, the Anonymus Valesianus, showed Eutharic in a negative way. It accused him of taking the side of Jewish people during anti-Jewish problems in Ravenna. This caused conflict between Arians and Catholics, as Eutharic was Arian.

Death and What Happened Next

Eutharic died in 522, at the age of 42. This was less than three years after he became consul. His death created problems for Theoderic. Theoderic never managed to create the strong Gothic family line he wanted. Eutharic and Amalasuintha had a son, Athalaric, born in 516, and a daughter, Matasuntha. But the family line was never firmly established.

Theoderic named Athalaric as his heir in 526. After Theoderic died that same year, Athalaric's mother, Amalasuintha, ruled as regent for her young son. Athalaric died in October 534 when he was 18. To keep her power, Amalasuintha brought her cousin, Theodahad, to the throne. Theodahad was also Theoderic's nephew. Even though he promised loyalty to Amalasuintha, Theodahad felt unsafe. In December 534, he had her imprisoned on an island. She was later killed on April 30, 535.

See also

In Spanish: Eutarico para niños