Gothic conquest of Galicia
| Gothic conquest of Galicia | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Kingdom of the Suebi | Visigothic Kingdom | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Miro, Andeca, Malaric | Liuvigild | ||||||
The Gothic conquest of Galicia was a prolonged military conflict between the Visigothic king Liuvigild and the Suebi Kingdom of Galicia, culminating in the latter's defeat and annexation in 585.
Miro's defiance
The war began with Liuvigild's conquest of vast territories around the Pisuerga River valley in 569/570, including the cities of Palencia, Zamora, and Leon.[1] Around the same time, the Suebi king Theodemir died and was succeeded by Miro.
To avenge this loss of territory, Miro invaded Cantabria and other adjacent lands. His efforts would prove to be futile, however, as Liuvigild reconquered Cantabria by 574 and captured Saldana, Asturias. Additionally, he conquered Zamora and Salamanca from the Suebi in 573.[2][3] Desperate, Miro attempted to contact the Frankish king Guntram for help, but the envoys were intercepted by Chilperic I of Neustria, an ally of Liuvigild.[4] Liuvigild's attacks resumed in 575 when he conquered Ourense from the Suebi and captured its Hispano-Roman lord Aspidius, causing Miro to accept a peace treaty.[3][4]
When prince Hermenegild revolted against Liuvigild in support of Nicene Christianity over his father's Arian faith, Miro sought to capitalize on Liuvigild's downfall and began marching to Hermenegild's aid in Seville. Before reaching the city, however, a conference held between the two kings caused Miro to return to Galicia. Back home, he contracted a sickness from the poor Baetican air and water, dying in 583.[4] He was succeeded by his adolescent son Eboric.
Final years
Eboric ruled uneventfully from 583-584.
In 584, a man named Andeca usurped the kingship by banishing Eboric to a convent and marrying his mother/Miro's widow, Siseguntia. Andeca's lack of legitimacy was excellent casus belli for Liuvigild to resume military operations in Galicia, which he did. In 585, Liuvigild deposed Andeca, relegated him to Beja, and annexed the Suebi Kingdom of Galicia as the kingdom's sixth province.
Although Andeca was the last official king, a pretender named Malaric briefly led a revolt in 585 claiming continuity of the Suebic kingship. Nonetheless, he was defeated by Liuvigild's generals the same year.[3]
References
- ^ "Leovigild | Visigothic Ruler, Reformer & Conqueror | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2026-02-02. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ^ Dow, E. W. (1914-04-01). "The Cambridge Medieval History . Planned by J. B. Bury , Regius Professor of Modern History, Cambridge University; edited by H. M. Gwatkin, M.A. and J. P. Whitney , B.D. Volume II. The Rise of the Saracens and the Foundations of the Western Empire . (New York: The Macmillan Company. 1913. Pp. xxiv, 891, 12 maps.)". The American Historical Review. 19 (3): 588–592. doi:10.1086/ahr/19.3.588. ISSN 1937-5239.
- ^ a b c Arias, Jorge (Spring 2007). Identity and Interaction: the Suevi and the Hispano-Romans.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ a b c "Henry Wace: Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century A.D., with an Account of the Principal Sects and Heresies. - Christian Classics Ethereal Library". www.ccel.org. Retrieved 2026-03-16.