Maldras facts for kids

Maldras (also known as Masdras) was a Suevic king who ruled a part of Galicia (in what is now Spain and Portugal) from 456 until his death in 460. He became king after the previous Suevic king, Rechiar, was defeated and killed by the Visigoths. During Maldras's time, the Suevic kingdom became divided.

Becoming King

Maldras was the son of a person named Massilia. He was not from the family of Hermeric, who had ruled the Suevi people since 406. Some historical writings suggest that the Suevi people might have had a say in choosing Maldras as their king.

A Divided Kingdom

In 457, the Suevic kingdom split even further. Some Suevi people did not accept Maldras as their leader. Instead, they chose another person named Framta to be their king. So, for a short time, there were two Suevic kings ruling different parts of the kingdom. Maldras and Framta acted independently. When Framta died a few months later, his followers were led by Rechimund. Historians are not sure if the two groups of Suevi people ever joined back together.

Raids and Conflicts

In 457, while Framta was still alive, Maldras led his people on a big raid into Lusitania (an ancient region that included parts of modern-day Portugal). They attacked and looted the city of Lisbon. They tricked the citizens into letting them in by pretending to come in peace, and then they plundered the city. Maldras was also accused of killing his own brother. In 458, he met with messengers from the Visigoths and the Vandals, who were other powerful groups at the time.

The End of His Reign

Maldras's people continued to raid western Lusitania. Maldras himself was killed in February 460. Some say he might have been killed by his own men. After his death, Maldras's followers chose Frumar to be their war-leader. Later, Remismund became king and managed to reunite the Suevic people. Some historians, like Isidore of Seville, claim that Remismund was Maldras's son, but this is not certain.

See also

In Spanish: Maldras para niños