Theodahad : A Platonic King at the Collapse of Ostrogothic Italy

Educated in Platonic philosophy rather than the military arts, the Ostrogothic king Theodahad was never meant to rule. His unexpected nomination as co-regent by his cousin Queen Amalasuintha plunged him into the intrigues of the Gothic court, and Theodahad soon conspired to assassinate the queen. But, once alone on the throne, his lack of political experience and military skill made him ineffective at best and dangerously incompetent at worst. Defeated by the Byzantine emperor Justinian, Theodahad was killed by his own subjects. In Theodahad , Massimiliano Vitiello rigorously investigates the ancient sources in order to reconstruct the events of Theodahad’s life and the contours of sixth-century diplomacy and political intrigues. Painting a picture of an unlikely king whose reign helped spell the end of Ostrogothic Italy, Vitiello’s book not only illuminates Theodahad’s own life but also offers new insight into the sixth-century Mediterranean world. Contents 7 Preface 11 List of Abbreviations 13 Introduction 19 Chapter One: Theodahad the Man 32 Chapter Two: Theodahad the Noble 59 Chapter Three: Theodahad the Co-Regent 77 Chapter Four: Theodahad the King 112 Chapter Five: Theodahad, the End 174 Epilogue 192 Appendices 197 Genealogical Table 211 Notes 213 Bibliography 323 Index of Place Names 341 Index of People 345