Individual Details
Vinitharias "the Just" Warlord of the Ostrogoths
(325 - 400)
Vinitharius succeeds Hermanaric/Airmanareiks as King of the Ostrogoths. He didn't abide by the peace of the Hun Empire and carried out first a campaign against the "Antes" (an early Slavic tribe). At the start, the Ostrogoths suffer great setbacks, but recover and eventually Vinitharius captures and crucifies the Antes King Boz, along with his sons and 70 of his favorite nobles.
Hun Emperor Bulümar "Sheke," known to the author as Balamber (ruled c.360-378) responded in the following campaign season by offering Gesimund, son of Hunimund "The Great" (or "The Beautiful"), an alliance to take down Vinitharius, and carries out three great campaigns, the third of which succeeds in killing the rebellious Ostrogoth leader in a battle at the River Erac (uncertain of the modern name). According to legend, Bulümar shot the arrow that fatally wounded Vinitharius (it hit his head).
In order to secure peace with the surviving Ostrogoths, Emperor Bulümar "Sheke" (there will be three other Hun Emperors before the rise of Attila) marries what Jordanes calls "Vinitharius' granddaughter", Vadamerca (uncertain of the actual relationship, as Vinitharius couldn't have been old enough to be a grandfather). He also rewards Hunimund, who was cousin of Vinitharius' father, with the office of King of the Ostrogoths, succeeding Vinitharius. His great achievement was fending off the Suavi.
After Hunimund's death, his son Thorismund takes the throne as King of the Ostrogoths, but his rule is cut short when after a successful campaign against the Gepidae, he falls off his horse and is killed upon hitting the ground. According to Jordanes, the Ostrogoths were so moved by the death of Thorismund that they mourned his loss for 40 years, refusing to allow another to rule in his place. This leaves Beremud, his son, out of his chance to become King, and so he picks up and walks off to join the Visigoths (who likewise don't make him king, despite his personal expectations of such). Despite the fact that the Ostrogoths are described as leaderless for 40 years, Beremud's son Veteric/Wederic is sometimes described as succeeding Thorismund, as he apparently had a role in the Ostrogoth capture of Rome.
Jordanes, in his writings, then prepares to introduce Vinitharius' three grandsons, from whom it was Theodemir who fathered Theodoric the Great, the most famous Ostrogoth King.
Hun Emperor Bulümar "Sheke," known to the author as Balamber (ruled c.360-378) responded in the following campaign season by offering Gesimund, son of Hunimund "The Great" (or "The Beautiful"), an alliance to take down Vinitharius, and carries out three great campaigns, the third of which succeeds in killing the rebellious Ostrogoth leader in a battle at the River Erac (uncertain of the modern name). According to legend, Bulümar shot the arrow that fatally wounded Vinitharius (it hit his head).
In order to secure peace with the surviving Ostrogoths, Emperor Bulümar "Sheke" (there will be three other Hun Emperors before the rise of Attila) marries what Jordanes calls "Vinitharius' granddaughter", Vadamerca (uncertain of the actual relationship, as Vinitharius couldn't have been old enough to be a grandfather). He also rewards Hunimund, who was cousin of Vinitharius' father, with the office of King of the Ostrogoths, succeeding Vinitharius. His great achievement was fending off the Suavi.
After Hunimund's death, his son Thorismund takes the throne as King of the Ostrogoths, but his rule is cut short when after a successful campaign against the Gepidae, he falls off his horse and is killed upon hitting the ground. According to Jordanes, the Ostrogoths were so moved by the death of Thorismund that they mourned his loss for 40 years, refusing to allow another to rule in his place. This leaves Beremud, his son, out of his chance to become King, and so he picks up and walks off to join the Visigoths (who likewise don't make him king, despite his personal expectations of such). Despite the fact that the Ostrogoths are described as leaderless for 40 years, Beremud's son Veteric/Wederic is sometimes described as succeeding Thorismund, as he apparently had a role in the Ostrogoth capture of Rome.
Jordanes, in his writings, then prepares to introduce Vinitharius' three grandsons, from whom it was Theodemir who fathered Theodoric the Great, the most famous Ostrogoth King.
Events
| Birth | 325 | Scythia (present Ukraine) | |||
| Death | 400 | killed in the battle at the "River Erac" - Scythia (present Ukraine) |
Families
| Child | Vandalarius (364 - 459) |
| Father | Valaravans ( - 409) |