Wiemer, Hans-Ulrich Theoderich der Große

König der Goten, Herrscher der Römer. Eine Biographie

Ravenna, 5 March 493: There was not a bone in this wretch. This is how the Goth king Theodoric commented on his murder of Odoacer, whom he had just dismissed from this world with a single sword blow. With the end of his adversary, a position had become vacant: that of ruler over the western part of the Roman Empire. Anyone who had witnessed the bloody start to his reign could hardly have expected that the oath-breaking, blood-stained Theodoric of all people would succeed in helping the Goths and Romans to enjoy a period of peace and stability lasting for decades. This book offers the exciting story of how he managed to keep his two peoples apart in a clever division of labour - the military tasks to the Goths, civil life and the payment of taxes to the Romans. The secret of his success, which the author of this modern biography convincingly unravels, was: Integration through separation! Even after 1500 years, it is fascinating to follow how Theodoric managed to maintain peace both internally and externally, but also to create peace without compromise if necessary, despite the great potential for conflict - in matters of faith and church organisation, between warriors and civilians, in his relationship with the emperor in Constantinople and with the Germanic kings in the west, as well as in the face of pressing social problems.