98:
420:
330:. 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
434:, 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.
450:
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
366:, 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,
22:
318:
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.
474:
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
317:
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
386:
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
449:
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
382:
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
239:
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
404:
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.
277:, 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
264:
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.
441:". 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.
890:
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,
405:
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.
304:, 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.
401:
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.
326:
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
378:
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
566:
353:
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.
285:
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
40:
952:
240:
fragmentary accounts provided by chroniclers, supplemented by occasional references found in the works of poets, rhetoricians, and theologians.
437:
In the midst of the ensuing chaos, Vetericus, a Goth serving in the Roman army, temporarily assumed leadership. Prosper's brief statement "
341:
Prior to the arrival of this army in Gaul, Aetius utilized the available forces to suppress the combined Gothic and Burgundian uprising.
334:, requesting military assistance. Although the timing is uncertain, it is highly likely that in 436-437, the Huns were granted parts of
261:
977:
972:
58:
483:. The exact date would probably have been late in 439 or early 440, because it is known that Aetius returned to Italy in 440
32:
439:
in the same period Vetericus was considered loyal to our state and known for the frequent demonstration of his skill in war
370:, which came under siege by the Romans. Following a prolonged siege, Theodoric eventually surrendered to General Litorius.
387:
Litorius succeeding him. Aetius himself temporarily assumed supreme command and actively participated in the war effort.
274:
396:
486:
The Roman victory assured future Gothic submission for more than twenty years. Apart from a brief interlude under
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568:"The Battle of the Catalaunian Fields, AD 451: Flavius Aetius, Attila the Hun, and the Transformation of Gaul."
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479:, who had previously abandoned the Visigoths, from Aquitaine. Hydatius and Prosper date this peace in
774:
Prosper, 1338, in: MGH AA 9, p. 477; Hydatius, 117, in: MGH AA 11, p. 23; Sidonius Apollinaris, 7. 295
223:. 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.
557:, Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 978-1783461349.
490:, the Goths were loyal allies of the imperial government.
424:
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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35:for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling
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509:, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison WI
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544:Child Emperor Rule in the Late Roman West
219:and the Roman army's commander-in-chief,
59:Learn how and when to remove this message
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287:magnificus vir parens patriusque noster
753:1335, in: MGH AA 9, p. 476; Hydatius,
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571:, Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd.
594:Military History of Late Rome 425–457
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196:was a military conflict between the
374:Armistice and Resumption of the war
293:and her young son Valentinian III.
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362:Litorius focused his efforts on
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20:
953:Wars involving the Roman Empire
445:End of the war and consequences
211:. It occurred primarily in the
535:, Uitgeverij Omniboek, Utrecht
391:The Battle of Mons Colubrarius
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757:116, in: MGH AA 11, p. 23;
597:, Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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583:, PEN & SWORD MILITARY
458:, who had meanwhile taken
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397:Battle of Mons Colubrarius
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78:
978:Wars involving the Goths
973:430s in the Roman Empire
581:Aetius: Attila’s Nemesis
555:Aetius: Attila's Nemesis
546:,Oxford University Press
523:, University of Toronto.
415:Battle of Toulouse (439)
358:Battle of Narbonne (436)
321:
275:rebellion of Theodoric I
231:during the same period.
81:Fall of the Roman Empire
520:The End of Roman Spain
427:
409:The Battle of Toulouse
166:Commanders and leaders
507:Romans and Barbarians
422:
345:The Litorius Campaign
338:near the River Save.
308:The course of the war
300:foederati under King
74:Gothic War of 436–439
936:Gallic chronicle 452
870:The Gubernatione Dei
533:de volksverhuizingen
273:As with the earlier
250:Sidonius Apollinaris
205:Western Roman Empire
194:Gothic War (436–439)
155:Western Roman Empire
102:map of Southern Gaul
763:de gubernatione dei
540:McEvoy, Meaghan A.
515:Kulikowski, Michael
262:Gothic War in Spain
90:Roman–Germanic Wars
816:Hydatius, s.a. 438
466:Peace negotiations
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39:You can assist by
855:Hydatius s.a. 439
751:Epitoma chronicon
710:Prosper, s.a. 437
475:departure of the
426:, Antoine Rivalz.
322:Aetius's reaction
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149:Belligerents
79:Part of the
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33:copy editing
31:may require
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968:439 endings
699:Hughes 2020
687:Hughes 2020
663:Hughes 2012
225:Burgundians
217:Theodoric I
185:Theodoric I
85:Gothic Wars
947:Categories
603:References
577:Hughes, I.
551:Hughes, I.
488:Thorismund
456:Vandal War
298:Burgundian
283:Bonifatius
256:Background
41:editing it
866:Salvianus
755:chronicle
749:Prosper,
494:Biography
328:patrician
279:Civil War
201:foederati
180:Sigisvult
160:Visigoths
591:(2020),
579:(2020),
565:(2019),
553:(2012),
542:(2013),
531:(1999),
517:(1997),
460:Carthago
432:Toulouse
368:Toulouse
364:Narbonne
351:Litorius
336:Pannonia
281:between
246:Hydatius
229:Bagaudae
227:and the
203:and the
176:Litorius
125:Location
759:Salvian
505:(1982)
454:in the
452:Vandals
302:Gunther
242:Prosper
235:Sources
472:Avitus
269:Causes
221:Aetius
198:Gothic
137:Result
130:France
477:Alans
380:Suebi
313:Start
248:and
192:The
111:Date
88:and
891:112
481:439
332:Rua
119:439
115:436
949::
896:^
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620:^
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117:–
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56:(
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37:.
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