Europe 456: Second Gothic War in Spain

Political map of Europe & the Mediterranean on 27 Dec 456 (Fall of the Western Roman Empire: Second Gothic War in Spain), showing the following events: Sack of Bracara Augusta; Marcellan Conspiracy; Execution of Rechiar; Burgundian Lugdunum; Visigothic occupation of Emerita.

In late 456 the Visigoths defeated the Suebi in Spain and executed their king Rechiar. Meanwhile, news of the overthrow of the Western Roman emperor Avitus caused chaos in Gaul, encouraging the Burgundians to take control in Lugdunum.

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Main Events

28 Oct 456 Sack of Bracara Augusta

After their defeat of the Suebi at the Urbicus river in early October 456, King Theodoric II and his Visigoths advanced on the Suebian capital Bragara Augusta (Braga), which they captured without bloodshed on Sunday the 28th. Despite the lack of resistance, the Visigoths then sacked the city—including many sacred buildings—and enslaved much of the Roman population. in wikipedia

456 Marcellan Conspiracy

When news of the overthrow of the Western Roman emperor Avitus reached Gaul, conspirators in Narbona (Narbonne) rallied around a certain Marcellus in an attempt to either restore Avitus or proclaim a new emperor. The conspiracy soon failed and in late 456 a middle-aged upstart named Paeonius took advantage of the situation to make himself Praetorian Prefect of Gaul. Paeonius would hold power in Gaul for a number of months until some time in 457, when he was officially recognized by the new emperor Majorian and then replaced. in wikipedia

Dec 456 Execution of Rechiar

After the Visigothic sack of the Suebian capital of Bracara Augusta (Braga) in late October 456, a Visigothic advance party moved into Portus Cale (Porto), where it captured the Suebian king Rechiar as he attempted to escape Spain by sea. Rechiar was then taken back to King Theodoric II, who had him executed that December. To replace Rechiar, Theodoric appointed Aioulf, one of his own retainers, as the new King of the Suebi. in wikipedia

Dec 456 Burgundian Lugdunum

Enraged by the overthrow of Avitus in October 456 the prominent citizens of Lugdunum (Lyon) and other cities of the province of Gallia Lugdunensis Prima formed an alliance with the Burgundians, who were at that point returning home from their campaign in Spain. As a result, in return for the protection of the Burgundian king Gondioc, the people of Lugdunum agreed to the settlement of the Burgundians across the region. This situation held until the summer of 458, when Lugdunum was retaken by the Western Roman emperor Majorian. in wikipedia

? Dec 456–31 Mar 457 Visigothic occupation of Emerita

Following his execution of the Suebian king Rechiar in December 456, the Visigothic king Theodoric II moved to Augusta Emerita (Mérida), the capital of the province of Lusitania, where he stayed until the end of March 457. By this point he had learned of the overthrow of his friend, the Western Roman emperor Avitus, but ultimately decided against pillaging Emerita before his departure. in wikipedia