Historia de regibus Gothorum, Vandalorum et Suevorum facts for kids
The Historia de regibus Gothorum, Vandalorum et Suevorum is a famous history book written in Latin. Its title means "History of the Kings of the Goths, Vandals, and Suevi."
This book was written by Isidore of Seville, a very important scholar from Spain. It tells the story of the Goths from the year 265 to 624. The book also includes the history of the Vandals and the Suevi, two other groups of people from that time.
Isidore's history is a shorter version of events. It uses many different older writings as its sources. This means some parts might seem a little bit different from each other.
Contents
About the Book
What is the Historia?
The Historia de regibus Gothorum, Vandalorum et Suevorum is a key book for understanding early medieval Spain. It covers a long period of history. Isidore wrote it to explain the past of the people living in Spain.
He wanted to show how the Goths became an important part of Spain's identity. He even created the phrase mater Spania, meaning "mother Spain." This showed his love for his country.
How Isidore Wrote It
Isidore used many older books and records to write his history. He looked at writings from historians like Jerome, Orosius, and Hydatius. For more recent events, he used works by John of Biclar.
Isidore also used a special way of dating events called the Spanish era. This was common in Spain at the time. For events between 590 and 624, Isidore's book is the main source historians use today.
Different Versions of the Book
Isidore's Historia exists in two main versions. Both of them have survived over time. The first version was probably finished around the year 619. This was the same year that King Sisebut died. This first version is shorter.
The second, longer version was likely finished in 624. This was during the fifth year of King Suinthila's rule. The longer version includes special sections. One is called Laus Spaniae, which praises Spain. The other is Laus Gothorum, which is a praise of the Goths themselves. These sections help us understand Isidore's view of his country and its people.
See also
In Spanish: Historia de regibus Gothorum, Vandalorum et Suevorum para niños
