Athalaric

For the son of the Emperor Heraclius, see John Athalarichos.

Athalaric
A solidus in the name of Justinian I minted by Athalaric.
King of the Ostrogoths
Reign	526 – 534
Predecessor	Theoderic the Great
Successor	Theodahad
Born	516
Died	2 October 534(534-10-02) (aged 17–18)
Dynasty	Amali
Father	Eutharic
Mother	Amalasuntha

Athalaric (Latin: Athalaricus; 516 – 2 October 534) was the king of the Ostrogoths in Italy between 526 and 534. He was a son of Eutharic and Amalasuntha, the youngest daughter of Theoderic the Great, whom Athalaric succeeded as king in 526.

As Athalaric was only ten years old, the regency was assumed by his mother, Amalasuntha. His mother attempted to provide for him an education in the Roman tradition, but the Gothic nobles pressured her to allow them to raise him as they saw fit. As a result, Athalaric drank heavily and indulged in vicious excesses, which ruined his constitution.

References

Attribution:

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Athalaric". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 825.

Further reading

• Letters of Cassiodorus, Book VIII from Project Gutenberg
• Procopius 'Wars' Book V, trans. H. P. Dewing
• Peter Heather, The Goths (Oxford, Blackwell, 1996).