Ostrogoth's Rise to Power
In the late fifth century the Italians experienced yet another major shift of power as the Ostrogoths, a foreign barbarian tribe, conquered Italy under their ruler Theodoric. However, Theodoric was never initially interested in Italy, in fact he was first at war with Zeno, the Roman Emperor in Constantinople. Zeno knew that he wouldn't outlast the barbarians, so he devised a plan with which he believed he could not only divert the Ostrogoths, but also retake Italy from Odoacer, a barbarian leader who was instrumental in the destruction of the Western Roman Empire. Zeno proposed that the fighting stop, and consequently, the Ostrogoths would help with the reconquest of Italy for Rome; Theodoric agreed and the war with Odoacer began. It did not last long, however as Theodoric soon sought out and killed Odoacer, but contrary to what he had previously promised, Theodoric set himself up as ruler, and the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy was established in 493.
Theodoric's Ruled
Theodoric was not your typical savage barbarian. While a prisoner in Constantinople he was educated and was much more fit for the job of ruling Italy than a run of the mill Ostrogoth. Theodoric had a plan for the Italian government that was extremely innovative and was not at all a plan for oppression. To maintain a level of peace between the conquered Romans and the Ostrogoths, Theodoric decided to preserve the Roman Government, though the preserved form of Roman government only applied to the local Italians. After Theodoric was confident that he had calmed the Romans, continued to establish an Ostrogothic form of government that was only upheld by the Ostrogoths. While Theodoric was comparatively lenient when it came to Italy's government, he quickly instituted purely Ostrogoth controlled military system.
In the Italian peninsula religion had been a major source of conflict and war throughout Rome's history. Theodoric had just marched into Italy with an Ostrogoth army who believed in Arian Christianity, and had mistakenly overlooked the potential religious conflicts. At first giving the Romans their old form of government seemed to be the solution to peace in the Kingdom, but problems soon arose. Romans were strictly Orthodox Christians and considered Arian Christianity a heresy. This became a major source of friction between the Roman's and the new barbarian leaders. This friction meant that once Theodoric died Italy would be left in a state of contention and would most likely fall at the first sign of war.
In the Italian peninsula religion had been a major source of conflict and war throughout Rome's history. Theodoric had just marched into Italy with an Ostrogoth army who believed in Arian Christianity, and had mistakenly overlooked the potential religious conflicts. At first giving the Romans their old form of government seemed to be the solution to peace in the Kingdom, but problems soon arose. Romans were strictly Orthodox Christians and considered Arian Christianity a heresy. This became a major source of friction between the Roman's and the new barbarian leaders. This friction meant that once Theodoric died Italy would be left in a state of contention and would most likely fall at the first sign of war.
End of the Ostrogothic Kingdom
In 526 Theodoric dies. Soon the Mediterranean world realizes that the Ostrogothic Kingdom had survived almost solely due to their leader's own personality and reputation. The successors of Theodoric quickly met opposition from the Eastern Roman Empire and the Byzantines, another barbarian tribe. Between the years of 535-552 the Byzantines, under their leader Justinian (527-565), conquered Italy, and in the process destroyed Rome. Their rule of Italy however, didn't last long. The Lombards invaded Italy in 568 and conquered the Northern and Central regions of Italy. The Lombards had a bad habit of fighting each other, and this allowed the Byzantines to keep control of some parts of Italy, mostly in the region around the Ravenna. Unlike the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines, the Lombards were harsh rulers and that type of leadership was most likely the reason the Lombards maintained control over Italy much longer than the Byzantines.