Theodahad

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King Theodahad

Theodahad ( Flavius ​​Theodahatus Rex ; * around 480; † December 536 ) was the last male offspring of the Amal family , Count of Tuscia and Ostrogothic king or rex from 534 to 536.

Life

After Theodoric the Great's death on August 30, 526, Theodoric's daughter Amalasuntha ruled as guardian of her only ten-year-old son Athalaric . When Athalaric died in 534, the Gothic warriors demanded a new rex . Amalasuntha then made her cousin Theodahad a rex to strengthen her position. However, she did not make him her husband, as is sometimes claimed; his wife Gudeliva was still alive. Apparently, however, she intended to continue running the government herself. But their choice turned out to be unfortunate. Despite a façade of literacy and culture, Theodahad was generally hated by the Roman majority of Italy for his greed. In addition, he was said to have had highly treasonable connections with the court of Constantinople . Theodahad promoted the discontent of the Goths. Either on his orders or with his consent, Amalasuntha was eventually imprisoned and murdered in the spring of 535.

Amalasuntha had been kind to the Emperor Justinian, who resided in Constantinople . After Amalasuntha's murder, Theodahad asked Pope Agapitus I to travel to Constantinople to dissuade the emperor from invading Italy . However, Agapitus did not succeed. Justinian used the turmoil in the Ostrogoth realm to take the initiative. His general Belisarius landed with an army in Sicily in 535 .

Vigilius , who was living in Constantinople at the time and was allied with the emperor, was to become pope. Theodahad did not want to tolerate this under any circumstances. He prevailed Silverius in June 536 before Vigilius arrived in Rome . Shortly afterwards Rome was occupied by Belisarius. Theodahad, who had failed as a military leader, now offered to cede Italy to Justinian. The outraged Goths overthrew Theodahad and elevated the experienced warrior Witiges to rex . This ordered Theodahad's death. In December 536 the Goth Optari killed Theodahad while he was fleeing from Rome to Ravenna.

In the church of San Nicola in the town of Genazzano east of Palestrina , a fragmentary inscription is walled up, which the presumed daughter of Theodahad named Flavia Amala Amalafrida Theodenanda donated (Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae No. 8990). The inscription is believed to be one that was brought here from Rome. The part of the name Amalafrida refers to the daughter of Theodoric the Great , who was also called and was mother of Theodahad. After her father's murder, Theodenanda may have withdrawn to a country villa, which was located in Genazzano below the church and convent of San Pio and which is claimed as the property of Roman emperors.

literature

predecessor Office successor
Amalasuntha 534-535 King of the Ostrogoths Witichis 536-540
personal data
SURNAME Theodahad
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Ostrogothic king (534-536)
DATE OF BIRTH 507 or 511
DATE OF DEATH 536