Theodoric leads the Ostrogoths to Italy

After the collapse of Attila’s empire the Ostrogoths settled in Pannonia. Theodoric, son of King Theodemir, spent about ten years of his youth as a hostage in Constantinople. In 473 his people moved into the Eastern Empire and were settled in Macedonia, and from 474 Theodoric was their king. Until 481 he competed for the emperor’s favour with another Gothic leader, Theodoric Strabo, who died that year; for fifteen years he alternately served Zeno and plundered the Balkan provinces: his Goths sacked Stobi and, in 482, Larissa. In 483 Zeno made him magister militum and consul for 484 and gave his people lands in Dacia Ripensis and Lower Moesia, but in 486–487 Theodoric was at war with the emperor again, blockading Constantinople and cutting off its water supply.

The agreement of 488 suited both sides: the Goths needed a land to live in, and Zeno had fallen out with Odoacer, who ruled Italy. According to the Anonymus Valesianus, once Odoacer was defeated Theodoric was to rule Italy in the emperor’s place until Zeno came himself. In the late summer or autumn the Goths set out from Novae, joined by the Rugians of Frideric, while many Goths of Thrace stayed behind; modern estimates put the host at no fewer than 20,000 warriors, perhaps 100,000 people with their families. After defeating the Gepids, who tried to bar their way in Pannonia, they reached Italy in August 489 and beat Odoacer on the Isonzo. In 493 Theodoric took Ravenna, and he ruled Italy until his death in 526.