File:The Goths, from the earliest times to the end of the Gothic dominion in Spain (1887) (14595084907).jpg

Identifier: gothsfromearlies00brad (find matches)
Title: The Goths, from the earliest times to the end of the Gothic dominion in Spain
Year: 1887 (1880s)
Authors: Bradley, Henry, 1845-1923
Subjects: Goths
Publisher: London, T. Fisher Unwin
Contributing Library: PIMS - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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uld beremembered as long as the Gothic name shouldlast. There was no other man in the kingdom whoseclaims were powerful enough to weigh against thereverence that was felt for Theoderics memory ; andalthough the Goths might privately sneer or lamentover the altered condition of affairs, they joined theirfellow-subjects in taking the oath of allegiance toAthalaric and his mother. Perhaps some of themmay have been reconciled to the new government bythe thought that under the weak rule of a womanthey would have more opportunity to oppress theirRoman fellow-subjects than had been allowed themin the past. If this was their hope, it was doomed to be dis-appointed. Amalaswintha herself was far more aRoman than a Goth. She had not, indeed, forgottenher native language ; but she spoke Greek and Latinequally well, and took delight in literature andscience. Her chosen friends were all Romans. Cas-siodorus, who seems to have retired for a while intoprivate life while Theoderic was playing the part
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14 194 ^ QUEEN*S TROUBLES, of an oppressor, again assumed the office of chiefminister of state, and his letters still remain to showus what sort of policy was followed. All acts ofoutrage on the part of Goths were rigorously inquiredinto and severely punished; the laws with regard toworship were altered in favour of the Catholics ; theconfiscated estates of Boethius and Symmachus wererestored to their children ; Roman officials were pro-moted and rewarded ; and special exemptions fromtaxation were freely granted to the provincials. Itis said that during the whole of her reign Amalas-wintha never punished a single Roman either withdeath or loss of property. But if these measures secured for the queen thegoodwill of the Romans, they excited bitter resent-ment in the minds of her own people. The Goths inTheoderics reign had sometimes complained that theRomans got too much favour ; but they knew intheir hearts that their king aimed at nothing butequal justice. But now they could make the

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