Visigoths facts for kids
The Visigoths were a powerful group of people from a larger tribe called the Goths. They were known as the "Western Goths." The other main group was the Ostrogoths. Both were Germanic tribes who moved around a lot and often fought against the mighty Roman Empire during a time known as the Migration Period.
One of the most famous things the Visigoths did was when their king, Alaric I, led his army to attack and capture the city of Rome in the year 410 AD. This was a huge event because Rome had not been captured by an enemy in nearly 800 years!
After this, Visigothic kings went on to rule large parts of southern Gaul (which is now France) and the Iberian Peninsula (which is now Spain and Portugal). They took these lands from other tribes like the Alans and the Vandals.
Even after the Western Roman Empire fell apart, the Visigoths remained very important in southwestern Europe for about 250 more years. They even started to adopt many Roman customs, including their culture and clothing styles.
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The Visigoths and the Roman Empire
The Visigoths were originally from eastern Europe. They began moving west, partly because of other groups like the Huns pushing them. They often had a complicated relationship with the Roman Empire. Sometimes they fought against the Romans, and other times they worked with them as allies.
Their most famous leader, King Alaric I, led them into Roman lands. After years of conflict, Alaric and his army marched on Rome itself. In 410 AD, they managed to break through the city's defenses and sack it. This event shocked the entire Roman world.
Kingdoms in Gaul and Hispania
After Alaric's death, the Visigoths continued to move. They eventually settled in southern Gaul, where they established their first major kingdom. This kingdom, with its capital at Toulouse, became very powerful.
However, they later lost most of their land in Gaul to another group called the Franks. Because of this, the Visigoths moved their focus to the Iberian Peninsula. Here, they created a new and long-lasting kingdom, with its capital later in Toledo. This kingdom in Hispania lasted for over 200 years.
Visigothic Culture and Laws
Over time, the Visigoths adopted many aspects of Roman culture. They started speaking Latin, which was the language of the Romans, and they also adopted Roman laws. They even became Christians, though for a while they followed a different branch of Christianity called Arianism before converting to Catholicism.
The Visigoths created a set of laws known as the Visigothic Code. This code was very important because it applied to both the Visigoths and the Romans living in their kingdom. It helped to blend the two cultures together.
End of the Visigothic Kingdom
The Visigothic kingdom in Hispania eventually came to an end in the early 8th century. In 711 AD, Muslim armies from North Africa invaded the peninsula. They quickly defeated the Visigothic forces, and their kingdom collapsed. This marked the beginning of a new era in the history of Spain.
Images for kids
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Gutthiuda
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The Pietroasele Treasure discovered in Romania, attributed to the Visigoths
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Europe at the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD
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Greatest extent of the Visigothic kingdom of Toulouse in light and dark orange, c. 500. From 585 to 711 Visigothic Kingdom of Toledo in dark orange, green, and white (Hispania).
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Visigothic Hispania and its regional divisions in 700, before the Muslim conquest
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Capital from the Visigothic church of San Pedro de la Nave, province of Zamora
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Visigothic church, San Pedro de la Nave. Zamora. Spain
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Visigothic belt buckle. Copper alloy with garnets, glass, and inclusion of lapis lazuli. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York).
See also
In Spanish: Pueblo visigodo para niños
