What is amalaric?

Amalaric was a king of the Visigoths who ruled from 526 to 531 AD. He was the son of King Alaric II and Theodegotha, and was born in 502 AD. Amalaric was raised in the Arian Christian faith, which was followed by the Visigothic nobility.

In 526, Amalaric became king of the Visigoths after his father was killed in battle against the Franks. He was only 24 years old at the time of his ascension to the throne. Amalaric had to deal with conflicts both within his kingdom and with external powers like the Byzantine Empire and the Frankish Kingdom.

One of the most significant events of Amalaric's reign was his conflict with the Byzantine Empire over the province of Spania. The Byzantines had conquered the region in the early 6th century, but Amalaric reclaimed it for the Visigoths in 531 AD.

Amalaric was also known for his conflicts with his Catholic Christian subjects, who were a minority in the Visigothic kingdom. He was criticized by the Catholic Church for his adherence to the Arian faith, which was considered a heresy by the Catholic Church.

Amalaric was assassinated in 531 AD, allegedly by his own Ostrogoth guards, who were dissatisfied with his policies and leadership. His death marked the end of the succession of Visigothic kings from the Amali dynasty, which had ruled over the Visigoths for over a century.