Amalasuintha

Amalasuintha, Queen of Ostrogoths, murdered in the bath

30th April 535

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Amalasuintha was a ruler of Ostrogothic Kingdom from 526 to 535.

The Ostrogothic Kingdom, officially the Kingdom of Italy, existed under the control of the Germanic Ostrogoths in Italy and the neighbouring areas.

Amalasuintha was the only child of Theodoric the Great, and his wife Audofleda.

Her given place of birth is in Ravenna, in 495.

Amalasuintha was married out of political reasons to Eutheric, an Amali prince, to ensure a legitimate heir to the throne.

Together they had two children, a son and heir Athalaric, and a daughter Matasuntha.

Eutheric died in 522, causing Amalasuintha's father Theodoric some alarm, as his kingdom lacked an adult male heir to inherit the throne.

As Amalasuintha's son Athalaric was only 10 years old at the time of Theodoric's death, it was proposed that Amalasuintha would control the kingdom alongside her son, as regent.

After the death of her father in 526, Amalasuintha served alongside her son as a regent queen.

Amalasuintha controlled most of the Kingdom by herself, as her son was still only 14.

Amalasuintha attempted to provide Athalaric 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 health.

On 2nd October 534, 17 year old Athalaric died, from what was most likely the combination of excessive drinking, and the likelihood that he also had diabetes.

After Athalaric's death, Amalasuintha became queen and ruled alone for a short while before making her cousin Theodahad co-ruler, with the intent of strengthening her position.

Unfortunately, Theodahad was a prominent leader of the Gothic military aristocracy, that opposed Amalasuintha's pro-Roman stances.

By Theodahad's orders or with his permission, Amalasuintha was imprisoned on the island of Martana.

On 30th April 30th 534/535, 39 year old Amalasuintha was murdered in her bath.

Amalasuintha was thinking about handing over Italy to Justinian I around the time of her death.

The death of Amalasuintha gave Justinian I a reason to go to war with the Ostrogoths, and attempt to take Italy.

Theodahad was replaced by Amalasuintha's son-in-law, Witigis.

With the people's support, Witigis had Theodahad put to death for the murder of Queen Amalasuintha.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalasuintha

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https://ko-fi.com/thetudorintruders

Woodcut from the Nuremberg Chronicle, 1493~

Michel Wolgemut, Wilhelm Pleydenwurff.