germanic tribes goths “gothiscanza” – south scandanavia first germanic people to become...

Germanic Tribes

Goths• “Gothiscanza” – South Scandanavia• First Germanic people to become Christian• Came across Baltic Sea from Sweden• Fought with Romans in the Balkans• In 370, divided into two separate groups

Ostrogoths• 400-556• Eastern Goths• Theodorik – Rise of power until 526• Defeated by Belasarius & Narses (Totila)• Teia made last ditch effort (Head on a

pole)

Visigoths• 376-711• Sought protection of Romans when Huns

invaded Europe• Eventually renounced allegiance to Rome• Established kingdom in what is now France,

Spain, and Portugal

Visigoths cont.Alaric

– Expanded Empire

– Sacked Rome (410)

• Move to Spain till 711– Destroyed by

Moors

Rome falls to the Visigoths

Lombards• 500-780• Originally settled along the Elbe River (Ger.)• Conquered northern and central Italy

– 6th Century• Gradually converted to Christianity

– Adopted Latin Language

Lombards cont.• “Langobards”• Helped Justinian against Ostrogoths• Alboin murdered 572 by Gepid

princess Rosamund• Ruled by Duces (35)• Northern Italy (Lombardy)

– Franks destroy them

Alamanni• 200-500• Inhabited what is now Germany• Confederacy of Germanic tribes

Alamanni cont.• “All men”• No strong central authority• Several rulers at once• SW Germany• Charles Martel absorbed into empire• Allemagne – French word for “Germany”

Gepids• 260-550• “Gepania” – Sluggish or slow (lazy) freshman• Driven out by Ostrogoths and Avars• Never created their own state

Burgundians

• Invaded and established kingdom in SE France and part of Switzerland

Vandals• Ancient Germanic tribe of Jutland (Denmark)• Entered Gaul (France) and Spain in 5th Cent• Fought against Romans and Visigoths• Moved to North Africa, attacked Italy• Known for their terrifying raids; why one who

plunders or destroys is called a vandal

Vandals cont.

• 400-533• Plunder rather than rule• Destroy Carthage• Defeated by Justinian• Gelimer – “All is vanity”

 "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity"

 -Gelimer, last king of the Vandals

Huns• Nomads from Asia who invaded territories of the

Germanic tribes• Forced Germanic tribes to migrate westward and

into Roman Empire• Led by Attila (known as “scourge of God”)

Franks

• 250-

• Courageous or Bold

Frankish Empire• Frankish also to mean free or fierce• Merovingians – Merovech (started empire)

• Handed down to Childeric (481)– Father of Clovis (481-511)

Clovis

• Greatly expanded empire• Defeated Alamanni’s, Burgundians, Drove

Visigoths to Spain• Officially converted empire to Christianity (Pope

recognized)

Clovis cont.• Soon became figurehead, not ruler

• Around 700 AD, lose power to Carolingians (Landowners under Merovingians)

• Pepin of Heristal – Mayor of the Palace

Charles Martel• “The Hammer”• 732 AD• Battle of Tours

– Defeat Muslim forces, unify clan (Oct 10 -15)– Horsemen (Muslim) vs. Foot Soldiers (Franks)– Terrain Costly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMzoBkaFxh4

Pepin the Short

• 751-768

• Took over with brother Carloman (became monk)

• Half brother Grifo imprisoned

• Defeated the Lombards– “Donation of Pepin” to Pope = Land of Lombards

Charlemagne• “Charles the Great”• 768-814• Built up judicial system• Revived the arts (schools)

– Renaissance

• Empire with vast military expeditions– 33 of 46 Campaign– Song of Roland(30 yrs of campaigns)

Charlemagne cont.• Spread Christianity

– Crowned “Charles Augustus” – Emperor of Romans

• 1st Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD on Christmas Day (Leo III)

Eldest Son – Pippin the Hunchback

Louis the Pious steps in!

(What a Jerk)

Louis the Pious• 814-840• Decided to split dynasty into 3 among sons for

control (excuses primogeniture)• Treaty of Verdun (843)

– Divided land• Strasbourg Oath

Lothar• Lower Provinces, Italy Central• Lotharingia

(Lorraine, Alsace, Burgandy)

Louis the German

• Got Germany• Holy Roman Empire

(Thanks a bunch, jerks)

Charles the Bald• Western portion

• What is now France

• Joined forces with Louis the German