Athalaric

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Athalaric (516 - 2 October 534), King of the Ostrogoths in Italy, grandson of Theodoric the Great, became king upon his grandfather's death in 526.

As Athalaric was only ten years old, the regency was assumed by his mother, Amalasuntha. His mother attempted to provide for him an education in the Roman tradition, but the Gothic nobles pressured her to allow them to raise him as they saw fit. As a result, Athalaric drank heavily and indulged in vicious excesses, which ruined his constitution.

He maintained close relations with Pope John II.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

Preceded by Theodoric the Great

King of the Ostrogoths 526–534

Succeeded by Theodahad