Euric

Euric (Gothic: 𐌰𐌹𐍅𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃, Aiwareiks, see Eric), also known as Evaric (c. 426¹ – 28 December 484), son of Theodoric I, ruled as king (rex) of the Visigoths, after murdering his brother, Theodoric II,² from 466 until his death in 484. Sometimes he is called Euric II.

Early years and kingship

Euric was born between 420 and 430 as the third son of King Theodoric I, who died in 451 in the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields against the Huns and Ostrogoths. His brothers Thorismund and Theodoric II were his predecessors as kings. Nothing is known about his youth. He likely grew up in the Gothic capital Toulouse and served in the Roman army, like his brother Frederic. Euric's appointment as king was typical of the Gothic succession for that time, where permanent succession was not common. Power was gained through violence and with the support of the aristocracy.³ Euric became king by murdering his older brother Theodoric in 466 in Toledo.⁴ This act was not motivated by his brother's Roman sympathies but rather by Euric's thirst for power. Sidonius Apollinaris described him as determined, intelligent, but also a tyrannical pursuer of Catholic bishops.⁵

Wars against the Romans

Uprising and independent from Rome

After his accession to the throne, Euric continued his brother's foreign policy, but he also tried to make an end of the alliance with the Western Roman Empire. The crisis that arose in 468 after the defeat of the joint Roman fleet in the , was for Euric the starting point to declare himself independent monarch in Gaul. On behalf of Euric, the Gothic militias in revolted. The cities of Merikda, Braga, Zaragona, Pamploma and Cluna were occupied or armed, seriously threatening the Roman rule in Spain.