Theodahad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Theodahad |
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Coin reading in Latin, "D[OMINUS] N[OSTER] THEODAHATUS REX / VICTORIA PRINCIPUM" ('Our lord Theodahad the King' / 'Victory of the Princes').
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| King of the Ostrogoths | |
| Reign | 534 – 536 |
| Predecessor | Athalaric |
| Successor | Vitiges |
| Co-monarch | Amalasuintha (until 535) |
| Born | c. 480 Tauresium, Eastern Roman Empire |
| Died | December 536 |
| Spouse | Gudeliva |
| Issue | Theodegisclus, Theodenantha |
| Mother | Amalafrida |
Theodahad, also called Thiudahad, was the king of the Ostrogoths from 534 to 536. He was born around 480 and passed away in December 536. His full Latin name was Flavius Theodahatus Rex.
Contents
Early Life of Theodahad
Theodahad was born in a place called Tauresium. He was the nephew of a very famous king, Theodoric the Great. His mother was Amalafrida. It's believed he was the son of Amalafrida's first husband. His sister was named Amalaberga. We don't know who his father was.
Theodahad likely came to Italy with King Theodoric. He was already quite old when he became king. The name "Theodahad" means 'people' and 'conflict'.
Before he became king, his relative Amalaswintha was in charge. During her time, some people who might have been enemies were treated badly. Theodahad was accused of taking land that wasn't his. He was made to give back land he had supposedly stolen. Old letters from King Theodoric to Theodahad suggest that this land was taken by force.
Theodahad Becomes King
After Theodahad's nephew Athalaric died, Queen Amalaswintha chose Theodahad to rule with her. She probably did this to make her rule stronger. Many Goths were not sure about having a woman as their ruler.
The problems between Theodahad and his cousin Amalaswintha soon started again. He had her arrested while they were ruling together. She was held on an island in Lake Bolsena in the spring of 535. Later, Amalaswintha was killed while she was being held. Theodahad's enemies said he agreed to her death. However, it's unlikely he would have wanted her gone, as her power helped him.
The kingdom became very unstable. This gave the Byzantine general Belisarius a reason to get involved. He came to Sicily and Italy to serve Emperor Justinian. This led to a big war known as the Gothic Wars.
The End of Theodahad's Reign
Theodahad was not very good at leading during the war. He started to lose control. Another leader named Witiges sent someone named Optaris to find Theodahad, dead or alive. Optaris caught up with Theodahad on a road called the Via Flaminia and killed him. According to a historian named Procopius, Theodahad's throat was cut. When Optaris returned with the news, the Goths chose Witiges as their new king.
Theodahad was known for loving philosophy and poetry more than fighting. Some people say that his focus on learning instead of war led to his downfall. This was a time when Italy was full of conflict.
Theodahad in Stories
Theodahad appears in a historical novel by Felix Dahn from 1876 called Ein Kampf um Rom. In this book, he is shown as weak and controlled by his wife, Gothelinda. She is shown as the real person behind Amalaswintha's death.
Theodahad also shows up as "Thiudahad" in a 1939 novel by L. Sprague de Camp called Lest Darkness Fall. This book is an alternate history story.
See also
In Spanish: Teodato para niños
