Theodoric the Great

Also known as Theoderic, Theodoric of Italy, Dietrich of Bern

Major
First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 164

Theodoric the Great radiates the magnetic authority of a man born to rule, his physical presence matched by the force of his personality. There's something both inspiring and intimidating about this illiterate king whose strength and stature are admired by his subjects, a ruler who disdains the refined arts of Greece in favor of the direct exercise of power.

Gender: male
Age: 5th-6th century AD
First appears: Book 1 · Ch. 164
Books: 1

Theodoric the Great, fourteenth in the lineal descent of the royal Amali line, transformed from a benevolent ruler into a paranoid persecutor during his reign as king of Italy. Born near Vienna, his body was formed for the exercises of war while his mind expanded through liberal conversation with his subjects. Initially celebrated for congratulating Clovis on his victories and interceding for suppliants and fugitives, he later came to suspect senators of treason, ultimately ordering the executions of Boethius and Symmachus. His illiterate signature, made with a gold plate, symbolized both his rejection of Greek refinement and his unshakeable royal authority.

Description

Theodoric the Great possesses the imposing physical presence of a warrior-king, with fair skin and reddish-blond hair and beard that mark his Ostrogothic heritage. His tall, muscular build speaks to a lifetime of military training, and his strength and stature are such that they are admired even by his subjects. He wears the royal Gothic regalia appropriate to his station, adorned with gold ornaments that reflect both his wealth and his authority. Despite his royal status, he remains proudly illiterate, signing documents with a gold plate rather than learning to write. His bearing combines the direct authority of a Gothic conqueror with the calculated intelligence of a ruler who has learned to navigate the complex politics of the post-Roman world.

Story so far

BOOK 1The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire / Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes)