109:
431:
341:. The simultaneous outbreak of the Gothic and Burgundian revolts compelled him to deploy the army efficiently. In Gaul, he only had the Comitatenses field army at his disposal. General Litorius had already been sent to suppress the Bagaudae insurgents with a part of this force. Aetius, who had established a delicate peace throughout his vast empire, was reluctant to lead the Goths with units from other regions, as he feared it would leave those areas vulnerable. Instead, he sent a delegation to the court of the Hun King
445:, due to increasing defensive pressure from the Romans. The Roman army, led by General Litorius, besieged Toulouse. King Theodoric I of the Visigoths attempted to attack the Roman camp during the siege but failed, resulting in heavy losses for his army. According to Prosper, "Due to the thoughtfulness of the Romans, the opportunities turned and the Goths became the parent party". Additionally, after the failed attack, General Litorius was captured by the Goths and executed.
461:
Toulouse and initiated the siege of a Gothic military encampment near their capital. After a short break to build siege towers, Theodoric's forces breached the camp's defenses and overwhelmed its defenders, leaving them with no escape. Ultimately, the Romans emerged victorious, and the
Visigoths suffered significant losses. Aetius was forced to make peace with the Visigoths, because he had to deploy part of his troops against the
377:, which was under siege by the Goths. However, upon the arrival of the Roman forces, the Goths retreated, leaving the city relieved. Subsequently, Litorius engaged the Goths in Aquitaine, shifting the conflict to the heartland of Gothic territory. Theodoric's army found itself progressively pushed into a defensive position, eventually retreating to its stronghold in the capital,
33:
329:
Roman rule and his desire to expand into areas bordering the
Mediterranean. Theodoric launched invasions into neighboring regions, prioritizing the capture of Narbonne, a key coastal city. His forces besieged the city, while also securing access to Spain by defeating garrisons stationed at the Pyrenean passes.
485:
According to
Sidonius Apollinaris, it was largely thanks to his commitment that Theodoric made peace. The peace was in a way unsatisfactory for the Romans, because the victory was not complete and the Roman army had also come out of the battle battered. Probably some of the peace conditions held the
328:
In 436, while the Roman army was dealing with a
Bagaudae uprising in Gallia Lugdunensis and a resurgence of Burgundian activity, Theodoric terminated the treaty with the Romans. According to Hughes, an alliance formed between the Goths and the Burgundians, prompted by Theodoric's dissatisfaction with
397:
Upon Aetius's return to
Ravenna following the marriage of Valentinian III and Licinia Eudoxia in Constantinople in early 438, he made changes to the command structure of the army in Gaul. Avitus, likely serving as magister militum per Gallias, assumed the role of praefectus praetorio Galliarum, with
460:
In response to the emergent situation, Aetius took command of the Gallic army. In 439, Aetius traveled southward to end the conflict. Aetius aimed to conclude the war with a significant triumph, boosting morale in the West and thwarting further Gothic expansionist endeavors. He hastened towards
393:
in Spain in 438. Despite the reconciliation between the Goths and Romans, hostilities resumed. Historians speculate that developments in Spain and the
Mediterranean, where the Vandals were increasingly engaged in piracy, contributed to this resurgence of conflict. Sources indicate a renewed
250:
The origins of the Gothic War (436–439) and the specific engagements that occurred during its course are poorly documented. The absence of comprehensive records detailing the battles makes it challenging to reconstruct the war's progression. Our available knowledge is derived primarily from
415:
Given the political exigencies in
Ravenna, Aëtius found it necessary to entrust the continuation of the Gothic war to Litorius after this engagement. In recognition of his efforts, the emperor commissioned the erection of a statue in his honor, with Merobaudes delivering laudatory remarks.
288:, the reason for this war is not clear from contemporary sources. Therefore, its origins must be inferred from the political situation of the Roman Empire at the time. The empire was relatively stable compared to the preceding decade, following the resolution of the
275:
in 418. However, they proved to be unreliable between 418 and 435. In 426, a significant uprising against the Roman Empire occurred, which was quelled by military intervention led by Aetius. Furthermore, in 430, Aetius defeated a Gothic army.
452:". Vetericus successfully stabilized the situation following Theodoric's disastrous attempt. Subsequent battles occurred, and the Romans dispatched new troops, mainly consisting of auxiliary forces from the Huns, to confront the Goths.
901:
Hughes (2020), p. 443; McEvoy (2013), p. 256–61; Frank M. Clover, 'Flavius
Merobaudes: A Translation and Historical Commentary', Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 61, no.1 (1971), 13, Panegyric I, fr. 2B; Hydatius,
416:
Presumably, Aëtius possessed ample confidence in the strategic acumen of his generals, Litorius and
Sigisvult, particularly considering the substantial setback the Goths had previously suffered.
315:, who wielded significant influence in eastern Gaul and posed a threat to Aetius. Furthermore, Theodoric I remained resolute in his quest for power, further complicating the political situation.
412:
One of the few notable achievements documented regarding Aëtius' involvement recounts a significant victory he achieved in a pivotal battle, during which he purportedly vanquished 8,000 Goths.
337:
The Roman army took some time to mobilize against the Goths. Aetius, the commander-in-chief of the
Western Roman army, was in Italy attending games held to celebrate his appointment as
389:
Theodoric was forced to lay down his arms and honor the treaty with the Romans, which obligated him to provide troops to the Roman army in the event of a setback against the
577:
364:
successfully suppressed the Bacaudian uprising in Armorica. He then led his army southward and, in 437, joined forces with a contingent of Huns to quell the Gothic revolt.
296:
and Aetius, which concluded in favor of the latter. Consequently, Aetius became the most influential figure in the Western Empire from 433 to 450. He attained the rank of
51:
963:
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fragmentary accounts provided by chroniclers, supplemented by occasional references found in the works of poets, rhetoricians, and theologians.
448:
In the midst of the ensuing chaos, Vetericus, a Goth serving in the Roman army, temporarily assumed leadership. Prosper's brief statement "
352:
Prior to the arrival of this army in Gaul, Aetius utilized the available forces to suppress the combined Gothic and Burgundian uprising.
345:, requesting military assistance. Although the timing is uncertain, it is highly likely that in 436-437, the Huns were granted parts of
272:
988:
983:
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494:. The exact date would probably have been late in 439 or early 440, because it is known that Aetius returned to Italy in 440
43:
450:
in the same period Vetericus was considered loyal to our state and known for the frequent demonstration of his skill in war
381:, which came under siege by the Romans. Following a prolonged siege, Theodoric eventually surrendered to General Litorius.
398:
Litorius succeeding him. Aetius himself temporarily assumed supreme command and actively participated in the war effort.
285:
407:
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The Roman victory assured future Gothic submission for more than twenty years. Apart from a brief interlude under
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579:"The Battle of the Catalaunian Fields, AD 451: Flavius Aetius, Attila the Hun, and the Transformation of Gaul."
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490:, who had previously abandoned the Visigoths, from Aquitaine. Hydatius and Prosper date this peace in
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Prosper, 1338, in: MGH AA 9, p. 477; Hydatius, 117, in: MGH AA 11, p. 23; Sidonius Apollinaris, 7. 295
234:. Contemporary sources characterize this conflict as a war. Additionally, there were uprisings of the
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is the most significant primary source documenting the events, with additional insights provided by
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However, new tensions arose with the emergence of formidable forces such as the
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The peace talks with Goths were conducted by the praetorian prefect Eparchius
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claims that he simply 'savoured away in a barbaric prison': Salvianus
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The Visigoths settled in Gallia Aquitaine as foederati after the
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from 436 to 439. The key figures involved were the Gothic leader
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Prosper s.a. 439; Hydatius s.a. 439. Instead of being executed,
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In 439, the Visigoths were forced to retreat to their capital,
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7. 39-43. Cassiodorus only mentions the death of Litorius.
568:, Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 978-1783461349.
501:, the Goths were loyal allies of the imperial government.
435:
Capture of Litorius by Theodoric at the battle of Toulouse
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and assumed the role of 'protector' of the empress mother
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large-scale war that initially challenged the Goths.
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46:for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling
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520:, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison WI
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81:
555:Child Emperor Rule in the Late Roman West
230:and the Roman army's commander-in-chief,
70:Learn how and when to remove this message
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685:
429:
935:
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298:magnificus vir parens patriusque noster
764:1335, in: MGH AA 9, p. 476; Hydatius,
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582:, Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd.
605:Military History of Late Rome 425–457
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207:was a military conflict between the
385:Armistice and Resumption of the war
304:and her young son Valentinian III.
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373:Litorius focused his efforts on
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964:Wars involving the Roman Empire
456:End of the war and consequences
222:. It occurred primarily in the
546:, Uitgeverij Omniboek, Utrecht
402:The Battle of Mons Colubrarius
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768:116, in: MGH AA 11, p. 23;
608:, Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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594:, PEN & SWORD MILITARY
469:, who had meanwhile taken
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408:Battle of Mons Colubrarius
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989:Wars involving the Goths
984:430s in the Roman Empire
592:Aetius: Attila’s Nemesis
566:Aetius: Attila's Nemesis
557:,Oxford University Press
534:, University of Toronto.
426:Battle of Toulouse (439)
369:Battle of Narbonne (436)
332:
286:rebellion of Theodoric I
242:during the same period.
92:Fall of the Roman Empire
531:The End of Roman Spain
438:
420:The Battle of Toulouse
177:Commanders and leaders
518:Romans and Barbarians
433:
356:The Litorius Campaign
349:near the River Save.
319:The course of the war
311:foederati under King
85:Gothic War of 436–439
947:Gallic chronicle 452
881:The Gubernatione Dei
544:de volksverhuizingen
284:As with the earlier
261:Sidonius Apollinaris
216:Western Roman Empire
205:Gothic War (436–439)
166:Western Roman Empire
113:map of Southern Gaul
18:Gothic War (436-439)
774:de gubernatione dei
551:McEvoy, Meaghan A.
526:Kulikowski, Michael
273:Gothic War in Spain
101:Roman–Germanic Wars
827:Hydatius, s.a. 438
477:Peace negotiations
439:
50:You can assist by
866:Hydatius s.a. 439
762:Epitoma chronicon
721:Prosper, s.a. 437
486:departure of the
437:, Antoine Rivalz.
333:Aetius's reaction
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710:Hughes 2020
698:Hughes 2020
674:Hughes 2012
236:Burgundians
228:Theodoric I
196:Theodoric I
96:Gothic Wars
958:Categories
614:References
588:Hughes, I.
562:Hughes, I.
499:Thorismund
467:Vandal War
309:Burgundian
294:Bonifatius
267:Background
52:editing it
877:Salvianus
766:chronicle
760:Prosper,
505:Biography
339:patrician
290:Civil War
212:foederati
191:Sigisvult
171:Visigoths
602:(2020),
590:(2020),
576:(2019),
564:(2012),
553:(2013),
542:(1999),
528:(1997),
471:Carthago
443:Toulouse
379:Toulouse
375:Narbonne
362:Litorius
347:Pannonia
292:between
257:Hydatius
240:Bagaudae
238:and the
214:and the
187:Litorius
136:Location
770:Salvian
516:(1982)
465:in the
463:Vandals
313:Gunther
253:Prosper
246:Sources
483:Avitus
280:Causes
232:Aetius
209:Gothic
148:Result
141:France
488:Alans
391:Suebi
324:Start
259:and
203:The
122:Date
99:and
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492:439
343:Rua
130:439
126:436
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