Respendial facts for kids

Respendial (also spelled Respinndal) was a king of the Alans, a group of people living in western Europe around the early 400s CE. After a big event called the Crossing of the Rhine in 405 or 406, Respendial's Alans moved into the Roman Empire. Another group of Alans, led by a king named Goar, actually joined forces with the Romans.

Respendial's Story

The War with the Franks

We learn about Respendial from an old writing called the Frigeridus fragment. This writing describes a war between the Vandals and the Franks. This war happened just before the famous Crossing of the Rhine on December 31, 406 CE.

The Franks were allies of the Romans. They were winning against the Vandals. The Franks caused many losses for the Vandals. They even killed 20,000 Vandal warriors and their king, Godigisel. The Vandals were almost completely defeated.

Then, Respendial, another Alan king, came to help the Vandals. This was likely in the summer or autumn of 406 CE. Respendial's Alans fought the Franks and defeated them. This happened even though the other Alan king, Goar, had joined the Romans.

Moving into Europe

After this war, the Vandals and Respendial's Alans crossed the Rhine River. It's not completely clear what happened to Goar's Alans. However, other historical records show that the Romans later settled them in Gaul, near a city called Orléans.

Meanwhile, the Vandals, a group called the Suebi, and Respendial's Alans kept moving. They traveled into Hispania, which is modern-day Spain. According to a historian named Hydatius, the Vandals arrived in Spain first, in September or October 409 CE. Gregory of Tours wrote that the Suebi and Respendial's Alans followed them later.

We don't know what happened to Respendial himself. By the year 418 CE, he was no longer king. Another Alan king named Attaces took his place. Attaces was later killed when the Visigoths invaded Spain. After this, Respendial's group of Alans joined with the Asding Vandals. Together, they crossed into Africa and created their own independent kingdom.

See also

In Spanish: Respendial para niños