Tag: Foedus

  • 14. More Serpent than Dove

    14. More Serpent than Dove

    The Vandals Part III 439 to 455 CE “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be therefore as wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew, 10:16 Gaiseric weathers Roman attempts to recover the African provinces, and begins to set his house in order. Marriage deals are made and broken,…

  • 9. The Vandals

    The Vandals Part I c. 200 BCE to 408 CE I introduce the Vandals with a cold.  The Vandals don’t have a cold, I have a cold. So, sorry about that. The Vandals rose up next door to the Goths, with whom they would have a complicated relationship.  This episode tracks their early migration into…

  • 6. The Whirlwind of Nations

    The Huns Part I c. 370 to 395 CE Where had the Huns come from? Who were they? How did they fight? What made them so scary? The answers are theory and speculation, and maybe one day someone will figure it out. Information on cranial modification is here and here An image of the patera…

  • 5. Five Kings and a Reckoning

    The Goths Part V 410 to 451 CE The Visigoths move out of Italy, into more years of privation. Along the way there’s a royal marriage, long marches, sieges and naval blockades. Ultimatehttps://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/r3j854/episode005_fivekings_edit.mp3ly the Goths find what they’ve been looking for for nearly half a century – a home. But there’s another, even greater test…

  • 4. The Sack of Rome

    The Goths Part IV 408 to 410 CE The death of Stilicho leaves Alaric and the Visigoths high and dry.  Negotiations break down, and Alaric takes drastic action.  The Sack of Rome of 410 is pointed to as one of the points where the Roman Empire fell, and the resonance of the event would be…

  • 3. Alaric the Bold

    The Goths Part III 378 to 408 CE The Gothic Wars end in stalemate as Goths and Romans try to come to terms with new realities.  A new leader appears to push for dignity and power for his people, who will take the fight into the heartland of the Roman world. Map of Alaric’s invasion…

  • 2. Athanaric and Fritigern

    The Goths Part II c. 264 to 378 CE The Goths face challenges at home and abroad.  An ambitious Roman Emperor seeks to shore up his reign at their expense.  Religious controversy and rivalry threatens internal stability.  But the greatest challenge arises in the East, and the Goths must abandon their way of life. The…