Amali
Encyclopedia
The Amali, also called Amals or Amalings, were the leading dynasty of the Goths
, a Germanic people who confronted the Roman Empire
in its declining years in the west. According to Gothic legend, the Amali were descended from an ancient hero whose deeds earned him the epithet of Amala or "mighty."
However, the Goths branched into two groups around the year 200: the Ostrogoth
s and the Visigoth
s. And by 395 their histories had become significantly separated. Edward Gibbon
writes, in the History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Chapter 31, footnote 160):
In this vacuum, the rival Balti dynasty
, predominant among the Visigoths in Italy
and Gaul
, was able to assume the Visigothic leadership. For it was Alaric
the Visigoth, a member of the latter dynasty, who led his people in the sacking of Rome
in 410
.
This success, and the dynasty of kings Alaric created, heightened tensions between the two families, leading to the Amali usurping the Visigothic throne in 415
, making Sigeric
king. But Sigeric's reign lasted only seven days before he was assassinated and the Balti dynasty resumed a powerful rule that didn't end until 531.
It can be generally said that, beginning in 395, the Amali were the royal house of the Ostrogoths while the Balti were that of the Visigoths.
In the Nibelungenlied
and some other medieval German epic poems, the followers of Dietrich von Bern are referred to as Amelungen. In other cases, Amelung is reinterpreted as the name of one of Dietrich's ancestors. The Kaiserchronik
also refers to Dietrich/Theoderic's family as the Amelungen, and in a letter of bishop Meinhard von Bamberg, as well as the Annals of Quedlinburg
, Amulungum/Amelung ("the Amelung") is used to refer to Dietrich himself. This shows that the family's legacy was remembered in oral tradition
far into the Middle Ages, long after any stories about Amal himself had ceased to circulate.
At least, two families claimed they had descended from Amali. First family was Billungs, Dukes of Saxony. They were also known as Amelungs or von Ömlingen. Another family was Solovjovs, Barons of Russian Empire from 1727 (in German speaking sources known as von Solowhoff or Solowhoff von Greutungen). Solovjovs claimed Ermanaric was their ancestor.
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
, a Germanic people who confronted the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
in its declining years in the west. According to Gothic legend, the Amali were descended from an ancient hero whose deeds earned him the epithet of Amala or "mighty."
However, the Goths branched into two groups around the year 200: the Ostrogoth
Ostrogoth
The Ostrogoths were a branch of the Goths , a Germanic tribe who developed a vast empire north of the Black Sea in the 3rd century AD and, in the late 5th century, under Theodoric the Great, established a Kingdom in Italy....
s and the Visigoth
Visigoth
The Visigoths were one of two main branches of the Goths, the Ostrogoths being the other. These tribes were among the Germans who spread through the late Roman Empire during the Migration Period...
s. And by 395 their histories had become significantly separated. Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon was an English historian and Member of Parliament...
writes, in the History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Chapter 31, footnote 160):
- "the true hereditary right to the Gothic sceptre was vested in the Amali; but those princes, who were the vassals of the Huns, commanded the tribes of the Ostrogoths in some distant parts of Germany or Scythia."
In this vacuum, the rival Balti dynasty
Balti dynasty
The Balti dynasty, Baltungs, Balthings, or Balths, existed among the Visigoths, a Germanic tribe who confronted the Western Roman Empire in its declining years. The Balti took their name from the Gothic word balþa...
, predominant among the Visigoths in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
, was able to assume the Visigothic leadership. For it was Alaric
Alaric I
Alaric I was the King of the Visigoths from 395–410. Alaric is most famous for his sack of Rome in 410, which marked a decisive event in the decline of the Roman Empire....
the Visigoth, a member of the latter dynasty, who led his people in the sacking of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 410
410
Year 410 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year after the Consulship of Honorius and Theodosius...
.
This success, and the dynasty of kings Alaric created, heightened tensions between the two families, leading to the Amali usurping the Visigothic throne in 415
415
Year 415 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Honorius and Theodosius...
, making Sigeric
Sigeric
Sigeric was a Visigoth king for seven days in 415 CE. His predecessor, Ataulf, had been mortally wounded in his stables at the palace of Barcelona by an assassin. The assassin was probably a loyal servant of Sarus, a Gothic noble and personal enemy whom Ataulf had earlier slain...
king. But Sigeric's reign lasted only seven days before he was assassinated and the Balti dynasty resumed a powerful rule that didn't end until 531.
It can be generally said that, beginning in 395, the Amali were the royal house of the Ostrogoths while the Balti were that of the Visigoths.
In the Nibelungenlied
Nibelungenlied
The Nibelungenlied, translated as The Song of the Nibelungs, is an epic poem in Middle High German. The story tells of dragon-slayer Siegfried at the court of the Burgundians, how he was murdered, and of his wife Kriemhild's revenge....
and some other medieval German epic poems, the followers of Dietrich von Bern are referred to as Amelungen. In other cases, Amelung is reinterpreted as the name of one of Dietrich's ancestors. The Kaiserchronik
Kaiserchronik
The Kaiserchronik is a 12th century chronicle of emperors, written 17,283 lines of Middle High German verse. It runs from Julius Caesar to Conrad III, and seeks to give a complete account of the history of Roman and German emperors and kings, based on a historiographical view of the continuity of...
also refers to Dietrich/Theoderic's family as the Amelungen, and in a letter of bishop Meinhard von Bamberg, as well as the Annals of Quedlinburg
Annals of Quedlinburg
The Annals of Quedlinburg were written between 1008 and 1030 in the convent of Quedlinburg Abbey. In recent years a consensus has emerged that the annalist was a woman.The annals are mostly dedicated to the history of the Holy Roman Empire; they also contain the first written mention of the name...
, Amulungum/Amelung ("the Amelung") is used to refer to Dietrich himself. This shows that the family's legacy was remembered in oral tradition
Oral tradition
Oral tradition and oral lore is cultural material and traditions transmitted orally from one generation to another. The messages or testimony are verbally transmitted in speech or song and may take the form, for example, of folktales, sayings, ballads, songs, or chants...
far into the Middle Ages, long after any stories about Amal himself had ceased to circulate.
At least, two families claimed they had descended from Amali. First family was Billungs, Dukes of Saxony. They were also known as Amelungs or von Ömlingen. Another family was Solovjovs, Barons of Russian Empire from 1727 (in German speaking sources known as von Solowhoff or Solowhoff von Greutungen). Solovjovs claimed Ermanaric was their ancestor.
Kings
- TheodemirTheodemirTheodemir was king of the Ostrogoths of the Amal Dynasty, and father of Theodoric the Great. He had two "brothers" actually brothers-in-law named Walamir and Widimir. Theodemir was Arian, while his wife Erelieva was Catholic...
, until 474474Year 474 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Leo without colleague... - Theodoric the GreatTheodoric the GreatTheodoric the Great was king of the Ostrogoths , ruler of Italy , regent of the Visigoths , and a viceroy of the Eastern Roman Empire...
, 474474Year 474 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Leo without colleague...
–526526Year 526 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Olybrius without colleague... - AthalaricAthalaricAthalaric was the King of the Ostrogoths in Italy. He was a son of Eutharic and Amalasuntha. His maternal grandfather was Theodoric the Great. He succeeded his grandfather as king in 526....
, 526526Year 526 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Olybrius without colleague...
–534534Year 534 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Iustinianus and Paulinus... - TheodahadTheodahadTheodahad was the King of the Ostrogoths from 534 to 536 and a nephew of Theodoric the Great through his sister Amalafrida. He might have arrived in Italy with Theodoric and was an elderly man at the time of his succession...
, 534534Year 534 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Iustinianus and Paulinus...
–536536Year 536 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year after the Consulship of Belisarius...