We explain what the Visigoth kingdom was, its origin and history. In addition, we explain the characteristics of its main kings, its institutions and its end.
The Visigoths ruled the Iberian Peninsula between the 6th and 8th centuries.
What was the Visigoth kingdom?
The Visigoth kingdom was a monarchical government instituted in the 6th century by the Visigothic populations that settled in the Iberian PeninsulaThe Visigoths were a population of Germanic origin who migrated to the peninsula in the 5th century and, although they first established their political center in Tolosa (Toulouse) and extended their domain throughout part of France (then called Gaul), they later concentrated their kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula (Hispania) and a southern portion of France, and had their political center in Toledo (in present-day Spain).
The Visigothic Kingdom retained some rules of Germanic lawas the elective monarchy of a military nature, but it also incorporated Roman practices and institutions, since the majority of the population in the peninsula was Hispano-Roman. Particularly important were the reigns of Leovigildo and, above all, Recaredo, who converted to Catholicism.
The last Visigoth king was Rodrigowho had to face internal conflicts and was finally defeated by Muslim troops from North Africa in the Battle of Guadalete (711). The end of the Visigoth kingdom marked the beginning of Islamic domination in the Iberian Peninsula.
The “barbarian” migrations in the Iberian Peninsula
The end of the Roman Empire was due to both internal and external reasons. big migratory movements of peoples (mostly Germanic, coming from northern Europe), known to the Romans as “barbarians”which affected the western territories of the empire.
These migrations, often violent, included real invasions that precipitated the end of the empire in the 5th century. During this period, Rome was sacked in 410 by the Visigothsled by Alaric, who some historians consider the first Visigoth king. Upon his death, Ataulf was chosen as his successor, and obtained permission from the Roman emperor to settle in southern Gaul.
Meanwhile, the Suevi, Vandals and Alans were the first peoples to penetrate the Iberian Peninsula (which was then the Roman province of Hispania) between the years 409 and 411. Although Hispania remained nominally a Roman province, The invading peoples settled in various areas of the peninsula:
- The Suevi in Gallaecia (in the extreme northwest of the peninsula)
- The vandals in Baetica (in the south of the peninsula)
- The Alans scattered throughout Lusitania (in the southwest) and Cartaginense (in the center and southeast of the peninsula)
The rise of the Visigoth kingdom
After being expelled from Gaul by the Franks, the Visigoths established their capital in Toledo.
The reaction of the Roman Empire to the migrations in Hispania demonstrated its weakness: it ordered the Visigoths, already settled in southern Gaul, to penetrate the Iberian Peninsula and expel the invaders. This is what they did with the Alans and Vandals, and They received the region of Aquitaine from the Roman Emperor, Honorius (in southern France), where they established a federated kingdom of Rome in 418. They later extended their rule to parts of Hispania as well.
When the Western Roman Empire fell in 476, the Visigothic kingdom with its capital in Tolosa (today’s Toulouse in southern France) became independent. The kingdom extended across southern Gaul and much of Hispania. Finally, due to military pressure from another Germanic people, the Franks, who were gradually conquering Gaul, the Visigoths established themselves fully in the Iberian Peninsula.
After a long migration, the Visigoths established their new capital in Toledo in the 6th century.chosen for its strategic central location on the peninsula. Thus began the Visigoth kingdom of Toledo, which He ruled most of the Iberian Peninsula until 711.
The main Visigoth kings
King Ataulfo led his troops to Hispania and settled in Barcino (present-day Barcelona).
Among the Visigoth kings known from historical sources, the following stand out:
- Alaric I (395-410). He was a military leader allied to the Romans who in 395 became the first king of the Visigoths and led the sack of Rome in 410.
- Ataulf (410-415)He helped the Roman emperor, Honorius, defeat a usurper and was allowed to settle in southern Gaul. He then led his troops into Hispania. and settled in Barcino (in present-day Barcelona), where he was assassinated in 415.
- Walia (415-418)By a treaty with the Roman Emperor, he expelled the Vandals and Alans from Hispania and was authorized to settle in Aquitaine, where he established a federated kingdom of Rome in 418. (according to a pact called foedus).
- Euric (466-484). He declared the independence of the Visigoth kingdom after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He also conquered more territories in Gaul and Hispania and formulated a legal body, called the Code of Euric, which put some Visigoth customs in writing.
- Alairco II (484-507). He established a code based on Roman law. Alaric II was defeated by the Franks, which led to the Visigoths retreating to Hispania and establishing their capital in Toledo.
- Leovigild (569-586). Considered he The true architect of the political unity of the Visigothic kingdom. His military campaigns extended Visigothic domination to almost the entire Iberian Peninsula (especially after defeating the Suevi and the Basques), and his legal code (known as the Code of Leovigild) permitted mixed marriages between Visigoths and Hispano-Romans (which had previously been prohibited). Leovigild also incorporated practices and symbols of the Roman Empire, but continued to cling to Arianism (a Christian doctrine considered heretical by the Catholic Church), which marked a distance from the Hispano-Roman population, which was mostly Catholic.
- Recaredo (586-601). He took a key step in the process of integration between the Visigoth and Hispano-Roman populations: he rejected Arianism, He converted to Catholicism and declared this religion as the official religion. of the kingdom at the Third Council of Toledo (589). He also had to face the Byzantines, who had settled in the south of the peninsula.
- Recesvinto (653-672). Under his reign, wrote the Liber Iudiciorum either I am judging (also known as Recesvinto Code) in 654. This new code of laws placed all the inhabitants of the kingdom, Visigoths and Hispano-Romans, under the same laws.
- Rodrigo (710-711), the last king of the VisigothsHe came to the throne in a context of succession conflicts, which is why he was immersed in a civil war that was taken advantage of by Muslim troops from North Africathat They invaded the Iberian Peninsula and defeated the king at the Battle of Guadalete in 711This episode ended the Visigoth domination of the Iberian Peninsula.
The political organization of the Visigoth kingdom
The elective monarchy
The political organization of the Visigoth kingdom was based on Germanic law. This implied that The fundamental institution of government was the assembly of free men (made up of noble warriors), in which the power of the kingdom resided and was conferred on a king (elective monarchy). In any case, in practice many kings acceded to the throne through usurpations.
The Visigothic Kings They combined Germanic organization with practices and symbols of the Roman EmpireThe legislation of the Visigoth kingdom consisted of the coexistence of two codes, the Visigoth and the Roman, until, during the reign of Recesvinto, both codes were unified and a single law was established for the entire population (that is, for the Visigoths and the Hispano-Romans).
Despite these attempts to consolidate a lasting model of government in a territory inhabited by a predominantly Hispano-Roman population, the Visigoth kings failed to establish a stable monarchy.
Although the progressive legal, political and religious integration of Visigoths and Hispano-Romans gave rise to a unified kingdom, Political instability arising from the elective nature of the monarchy It was one of the reasons for the collapse of the Visigoth kingdom in 711.
The Officium Palatinum
Throughout the history of the Visigoth kingdom, the king’s powers were extensive.: He was at the same time supreme judge, head of the army, legislator, and in charge of war and peace. The monarchs had a retinue of clients who accompanied them, swore loyalty to them and received protection and support in return.
In practice, The king ruled with the help of the Officium Palatinummade up of individuals close to the king. In the Officium Palatinum Two management bodies were involved: the Aula Regia or King’s Council, which advised the king on legislative tasks and government matters, and the Councils of Toledo, which met from time to time to discuss political, legal and religious issues.
They were part of the Officium Palatinum high-ranking characters which, with the title of you eatwere in charge of different services: you eat of the Royal Treasury, you eat of administration of Crown lands, you eat tax collection, you eat of the expenses of the monarch and his household. The great territorial and military officials also participated: sweets provincials (delegates of the king), civic committees (judges of the cities) and gardingos (military leaders).
The end of the Visigoth kingdom
The Muslims invaded the Iberian Peninsula and defeated King Rodrigo at the Battle of Guadalete (711).
Upon the death of the Visigoth king Witiza (700-710), A civil conflict broke out in the Visigoth kingdom which pitted the troops loyal to Rodrigo, who proclaimed himself king, against the forces of Agila II, who established his dominion in the extreme northeast of the kingdom.
This internal fragmentation of the Visigoth kingdom favoured the invasion of Muslim troops, subordinate to the Umayyad Caliphate, who were stationed in North Africa. After crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, the Muslim Arab and Berber forces led by General Tariq They defeated Rodrigo at the Battle of Guadalete in 711After Rodrigo’s death and the defeat of the Visigoth kingdom, the Muslims began the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.
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References
- Arsenal, L. (2020). Goths of Hispania. Edaf.
- Britannica, Encyclopedia (2022). Visigoth. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/
- Cebrian, L.A. (2002). The adventure of the Goths. The sphere of books. Gómez Aragonés, D. (2018). Barbarians in Hispania. The sphere of books.