Important people in German history

For Test 2/14

Jacob Grimm

Collected fairy tales to build German identity, created Grimms law which separates Germanic languages from non-germanic indo European languages

Julius Caesar

Killed ¼ million Celts, battle of Mulhouse, defeated Celtic leader Vercingetorix

Tacitus

Historian and author of Germania and The Annals

Arminius (also called Herrmann)

Part of Cherusci tribe, taken hostage after Romans defeated the tribe in 8BC. Becomes trusted military leader and Roman citizen, known for battle in Teutoburg forest against Varus. Later became important figure in Nazi propaganda.

Theodoric

King of the Ostrogoths in Italy from AD 493-526 and regent to the Visigoths, was a hostage in Constantinople in his youth, was hostile to the Eastern Roman empire and raided them, even though Zeno Made him commander of Eastern Roman forces. Ruled with, then killed, Odoacer.

Odoacer

Part of the Sciri tribe. Overthrew Romulus Agustulus and ended the western Roman empire. Was a soldier and statesman from the middle Danube, client of Zeno, Arian christian. Ruled with, then killed by, Theodoric.

Zeno

Eastern Roman Emperor from 474 to 475 and again from 476 to 491

Alaric I

First king of the Visigoths from AD 395-410, helped to defeat the Franks

Euric

Ruled from 466 until his death in 484 as king of the first truly unified Visigothic nation after killing his brother Theodoric II. At the end of the Western Roman Empire, he ruled almost the entire Iberian Peninsula.

Huneric

Was King of the North African Vandal Kingdom from 477– 484 and the oldest son of Gaiseric. Huneric was a son of King Gaiseric, and was sent to Italy as a hostage in 435, when his father made a treaty with the Western emperor Valentinian III. Huneric became king of the Vandals on his father's death on 25 January 477. Like Gaiseric he was an Arian, and his reign is chiefly memorable for his persecution of Nicene Christians in his dominions.

Gaiseric

King of the Vandals and Alans from 428 to 477. The murder of Roman Emperor Valentinian III, who had betrothed his daughter to Gaiseric's son Huneric, led the Vandal king to invade Italy. The invasion culminated in his most famous exploit, the capture and plundering of Rome in June 455. Gaiseric repulsed two major attempts by both halves of the Roman Empire to reclaim North Africa, inflicting devastating defeats on the forces of Majorian in 460 and Basiliscus in 468.