Let's try and get 1,000,000 replies to this post

My recent CD purchases.

20150428_163300_zpsgulxzknb.jpg
 
But since you are a historian, I assume you can illuminate us with knowledge of the ethnical group called visigoths, and whether they have anything to do with Gotland at all? In my ignorance I made the link between Götaland (a part of Sweden) and also Gotland (island off the eastern coast of Sweden) to the term Goths.

Feel free to shed some light :D
 
Gotland got is name from an ancient saga which indeed locates the origin of the Germanic tribe of the Goths there. The story goes that they left the island to land in what is now Poland and spread throughout Europe.
However, this is impossible to verify historically or archaeologically. The Goths first appear in historical records in 238 CE when they devastated Roman provinces south of the Danube. Before that, there is some mention of tribes such as the Gutoni and the Getae in southeastern Europe, but it is not clear if they are related.
In the 4th century, the Goths split into two main groups: The Ostrogoths and the Visigoths. The Ostrogoths migrated to the east in modern-day Ukraine, but were then pushed back westwards by the invading Huns, conquered Italy and destroyed the West Roman Empire in the mid-5th century. This Italian Ostrogoth empire had its capital in Ravenna and lasted until the Byzantines invaded in the mid-6th century.
The Visigoths migrated down to Gaul where they founded an empire with its capital in Toulouse; but then were forced further westward by other migrating tribes into Spain. Here, they founded a new Visigoth empire based in Toledo in 507 that lasted until the Muslim Arabs invaded Spain in 711.
 
Very interesting! Also, the mention of the capitals!
(Incidentally, today my wife bought an "Atlas of Medieval Europe", also for Adrian, because he's very much into topography lately)
 
You may have seen this:

RA_Theoderich-Mausoleum_2010.JPG


The tomb of Theoderic I, the most famous Ostrogoth king, in Ravenna.
 
Trust me, I already simplified it almost beyond recognition there. You don't want me to dig out those old notes from my Medieval History introduction lecture, do you? :P
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top