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Project MedLands ATAULF

ATAULF, son of --- (-murdered Barcelona [Aug/Sep] 416). Iordanes names "Ataulfo" as "eius [Alaricus rex Vesegotharum] consanguineo" but does not specify the precise relationship[15]. He is first mentioned in 408 in relation to a military campaign in upper Pannonia[16]. He succeeded his brother-in-law in 410 as ATAULF King of the Visigoths: Olympiodorus Thebæus records that Alaric was succeeded by “Adaulphum uxoris fratrem””[17]. Procopius records that Ataulf succeeded on the death of Alaric[18]. The Chronica Regum Visigotthorum records that the Goths left Italy during the reign of “Ataulphus” and occupied “Gallias, ac postea Hispanias”, adding that Ataulf reigned for six years[19]. He led his people out of Italy and established his court at Narbonne[20]. He crossed the Pyrenees into Spain from the Visigoth base in Toulouse with a small army, charged by the enfeebled Roman State in Hispania with expelling the Vandal invaders from the south and the Suevi from the north west[21]. They occupied Barcelona in 414[22]. He was assassinated by Dubius or Eberwolf in revenge for the earlier killing of Sarus, the brother of Ataulf's successor Sigeric[23]. The Chronicon of Bishop Idatius records that “Ataulfus” was murdered at Barcelona “per quemdam Gothum…inter familiars fabulas” in 416[24]. married firstly ---. The name of Ataulf's first wife is not known. This first marriage is confirmed by Olympiodorus Thebæus who records that Ataulf “e priore conjuge” had “liberos vi”[25]. married secondly (Narbonne Jan 414) as her first husband, GALLA PLACIDIA, daughter of Emperor THEODOSIUS I & his second wife Galla ([388/early May 394][26]-27 Nov 450). Iordanes names "Placidiam" as the daughter of Emperor Theodosius & his second wife, recording in a later passage that she was captured by "Halaricus rex Vesegotharum" when he attacked Rome and later married his successor "Atauulfo"[27]. The Chronicle of Marcellinus also records that "Placidia Honorii principis sorore" was abducted by "Halaricus" and later married "Athaulfo propinquo suo"[28]. Captured by Alaric King of the Visigoths during the sack of Rome in Aug 409, she passed to Ataulf on his accession as king[29]. Olympiodorus Thebæus records that Ataulf married “Placidia” during the month of January “in Narbone, Galliæ urbe”[30]. The Chronicon of Bishop Idatius records that “Ataulfus” married “Placidiam” at Narbonne in 414[31]. Her first husband married her after failing to establish an alliance with Emperor Honorius[32]. As part of the peace negotiated by King Walia with the Romans in 416, Galla Placidia was returned to her brother Honorius in early 416[33]. The Chronicon Albeldense names “Ballia” as successor of “Sigericus”, adding that he made peace with Emperor Honorius and returned his sister Placidia to him[34]. She married secondly (1 Jan 417) Flavius Constantius, who succeeded in 421 as Emperor CONSTANTIUS III. Iordanes records that Placidia was created "Augustam" and her son Valentinian "Cæsar" to lead the opposition to Iohannes who invaded the western empire[35]. The Chronicon of Bishop Idatius records the death in 450 of “Valentiniani Imperatoris mater Placidia…apud Romam”[36].

King Ataulf & his first wife had children:

• a) children (-murdered Barcelona [Aug/Sep] 415). Olympiodorus Thebæus records that Ataulf “e priore conjuge” had “liberos vi” who were killed after their father died, despite being protected by “Sigesari episcopus”[37]. Wolfram notes that this phrase in the Latin translation of the Greek original has been misinterpreted to indicate that Ataulf had six children by his first wife[38].

King Ataulf & his second wife had one child:

• b) THEODOSIUS ([414/early 415]-[415], bur near Barcelona). Olympiodorus Thebæus records that Ataulf became the father of “e Placidia filio...Theodosio” who died and was buried “juxta Barcinonem in templo”, dated to before Ataulf himself died[39].
• 2. brother . Olympiodorus Thebæus records that Ataulf named as his successor “fratri suo”, who was displaced by “Sari frater, Singerichus”[40].
• 3. sister . Her family origin and marriage are indicated by Olympiodorus Thebæus who records that Alaric was succeeded by “Adaulphum uxoris fratrem””[41]. m ALARIC King of the Visigoths, son of --- (-Bruttium, southern Italy end 410).