LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Goths
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The original Goths were a Germanic tribe who played an important role in the fall of the western Roman Empire. The name "goth" later became pejorative: synonymous with "barbarian" and being uncultured (a similar fate befell the name of another such tribe, the Vandals). During the Renaissance period in Europe, medieval architecture was retrospectively labelled gothic architecture, and was considered ugly and barbaric in contrast to the pure lines of classical architecture. In the United Kingdom, by the late 1700s... nostalgia for the medieval period destroyed by the Reformation led people to become fascinated with medieval gothic ruins. This sometimes went to the extent of building fake ruins. This fascination was often combined with an interest in medieval romances, Roman Catholic religion, and the supernatural.
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The Goths are a people that were betrayed and enslaved by the Romans that ultimately bring about the final end of the Roman Empire and what is widely considered to be the birth of the “Dark Ages” in 476 AD. Arriving in Rome at first as a means of protection against other nomadic tribes, the Goths are used as a first line of defense by their Roman leaders to spare Roman lives while Goth lives were simply used as fodder and eventually the Goths turn their military training back upon the Romans and finally sack the city of Rome itself. Interestingly Attila, the Hun and his mighty army play a role in history as almost a precursor to the fall of Rome. More than a conqueror, Attila tries to unite the various Hun tribes into a unified and recognized empire. Shrouded in myth and legend as with all of the historic figures discussed in “Barbarians,” Attila ultimately is ahead of his time when it comes to taking Rome by force. Jealousy from competing tribes that form alliances with the waning Roman Empire, which include armies of Visigoths ultimately succeed in repelling the Huns.
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XIII (76) Now after a long time, in the reign of the Emperor Domitian, the Goths, through fear of his avarice, broke the truce they had long observed under other emperors. They laid waste the bank of the Danube, so long held by the Roman Empire, and slew the soldiers and their generals. Oppius Sabinus was then in command of that province, succeeding Agrippa, while Dorpaneus held command over the Goths. Thereupon the Goths made war and conquered the Romans, cut off the head of Oppius Sabinus, and invaded and boldly plundered many castles and cities belonging to the Emperor. (77) In this plight of his countrymen Domitian hastened with all his might to Illyricum, bringing with him the troops of almost the entire empire. He sent Fuscus before him as his general with picked soldiers.
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The Goths had regained much territory they had lost to Clovis; so Theodoric sent his son Theudebert, and Chlotar sent his son Gunthar to try to win it back. While her husband was away, Theudebert fell in love with Deuteria, and they conceived a child. Theodoric killed his relative Sigivald and sent his son Theudebert a secret message to kill Sigivald's son; but Theudebert warned the younger Sigivald instead, and he fled to Arles and Italy. Theodoric died of illness in 534. Childebert and Chlotar tried to take his kingdom, but Theudebert bought them off and then married Deuteria. Young Sigivald returned from Italy, and Theudebert restored to him the property his father had confiscated from Sigivald's father.
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In this campaign the religious position of the Goths is strongly marked. The Arian appeared as an enemy alike to the pagan majority and the Catholic minority; but he came surrounded by monks, and his chief wrath was directed against the heathen temples (vide G. F. Hertzberg, Geschichte Griechenlands, iii. 391). His Italian campaigns fall into two great divisions, that of 402-3, when he was driven back by Stilicho, and that of 408-10, after Stilicho's death. In this second war he thrice besieged Rome (408, 409, 410). The second time it suited a momentary policy to set up a puppet emperor of his own, and even to accept a military commission from him.
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XXI (110) After these events, the Goths had already returned home when they were summoned at the request of the Emperor Maximian to aid the Romans against the Parthians. They fought for him faithfully, serving as auxiliaries. But after Caesar Maximian by their aid had routed Narseus, king of the Persians, the grandson of Sapor the Great, taking as spoil all his possessions, together with his wives and his sons, and when Diocletian had conquered Achilles in Alexandria and Maximianus Herculius had broken the Quinquegentiani in Africa... winning peace for the empire, they began rather to neglect the Goths.
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