Germanic Tribes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodoric_the_Great

Theodoric is one of the most underappreciated but most fascinating Germanic king of the Medieval period. Does anyone know anything but him that they would like to share.

My vote goes to the Ostrogoths out of interest.

When Theodoric was bearing down on Constantinople, Emperor Zeno made a deal with him. Zeno invited him to invade Italy which was then ruled by another Germanic king named Odoacer. He conceeded and tricked Odoacer into meeting with him. In the midst of a night of drinking, Theodoric killed Odoacer ad his sons becoming King of the new Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy.

During his reign Theodoric retained a good relationship with Constantinople and even preserved Roman culture in that region. He is also known to have organized alliances with most of the Germanic kings of western Europe, including the famous Frankish King Clovis. He died in 526 A.D.

Most of my knowledge of Theodoric comes from a novel: Raptor by Gary Jennings. Kind of formulaic and a bit too much emphasis on sex, but otherwise it's an enjoyable, well researched portrait of late 5th century and early 6th century Europe, with an emphasis on Theodoric.

I agree though in principle: Theodoric is a figure that is under-appreciated. He deserves a lot of credit for preserving Roman institutions.

My favourite would also be the Vandals. Although much of their credit must go to their legendary King Gaiseric, the fact is they went further than any Germanic tribe, was the only one to challenge Roman naval supremacy, sacked Rome (always a plus in this period) without wanton destruction or killing and may have grown into a very successful Kingdom had it not been for the brilliance of Belisarius and the ambition of Justinian.

Most important are definitely the Franks, whose civilization was the dominant trend setter and source of much military strength for Western Europe during the middle ages.

The Franks are a fascinating Germanic tribe.  Their ruthless and warlike aggressiveness assured their domination of other tribes, and their adoption of the Gallic-Roman practice of having land-owning retainers (bucellarii) of the chieftain (king), laid the groundwork of feudal social organization, the most important medieval institution.

They certainly were the basis for both France and Germany, but, I think not Italy.  The Carolingian "empire" embraced Italy only briefly under Charlemagne, and Italy was never a truly feudal land.  The Lombards were much more influential there.     

Yes, that is true.  The "Franco" Normans introduced feudal institutions into England after 1066, and they also had an effect in Sicily, but not to the same degree.  And northern Italy was not as much influenced by feudal institutions.  Much of Italy was more influenced by the Church and the clergy and their land wealth; France and Germany more by the landed nobility  (knights/dukes).  Later, it was commerce in Italy.

By the early Renaissance (late 13th/early 14th c.) Italian towns and merchants, through trade and commerce and staying aloof from the Crusades, were more influential than any landed nobles in Italy.  By the 14th c. the city-states were the powers in Italy since they had the money to hire mercenary armies.  Nobles hired out as soldiers since soldiering was what they knew how to do.  Not too feudal.