Better Ostrogothic Succession

In my neverending quest for interesting early medieval PODs, how about this one: Theodoric's son in law Eutharic doesn't die and ascends to the Ostrogothic throne.

What does this mean for relations between the Visigoths and Ostrogoths(Eutharic was a Visigothic Noble. Gothic reunification???:p)?
What happens with the Franks? What happens when (and if, I suppose) the Byzantines come around?
 
Bump. I'm really interested in a surviving Ostrogothic kingdom and would like to know what you all think about this scenario. Would the Byzantines still come around, or would they decide it's not worth it? What do the Vandals do? I can see a war between them and the Goths sometime in the future...
 
Tbh I can't think that much would change down the line tho you just might get a small surviving state in North Italy if things go better with Belisarius.
 

Philip

Donor
What does this mean for relations between the Visigoths and Ostrogoths(Eutharic was a Visigothic Noble. Gothic reunification???:p)?

It is too late for the Visigoths at this point, Eutharic died in 522, well after the Franks had displaced the Visigoths from Gaul. You need to either stabilize their succession or have them conquered by the Ostrogoths for this to work. Even then you will still have the instability that comes from an Arian elite ruling a Nicene population that ruined the Visigothic Kingdom.


What happens with the Franks?
Most likely, they make and break alliances as it suits them with the any surviving Ostrogothic kingdom.

What happens when (and if, I suppose) the Byzantines come around?
Depends on the path the Ostrogoths take and how the Nicene population of Italy views their overlords.

Bump. I'm really interested in a surviving Ostrogothic kingdom and would like to know what you all think about this scenario.

I think you need to set the POD a little earlier. Keep the initial Ostrogothic kingdom small -- maybe just the Po Valley. This will help keep the relatively small Ostrogothic population concentrated and allow them to establish themselves. Trying to have them quickly become a renewed Western Empire is bound to fail. It may be useful to import some other Germanics to boost the population. Refugee Gepids or Lombards fleeing Byzantine attacks could help.
 
I think you need to set the POD a little earlier. Keep the initial Ostrogothic kingdom small -- maybe just the Po Valley. This will help keep the relatively small Ostrogothic population concentrated and allow them to establish themselves. Trying to have them quickly become a renewed Western Empire is bound to fail. It may be useful to import some other Germanics to boost the population. Refugee Gepids or Lombards fleeing Byzantine attacks could help.

I agree with you, but wasn't the whole point of their invasion of Italy to get rid of Odoacer? If they just settle in the Po valley, they haven't really done that. I don't see Odoacer's kingdom lasting very though, so maybe the Ostrogoths can come in and take over if it collapses? Although the Byzantines seem more likely to take advantage of a situation like that...
 

Philip

Donor
I agree with you, but wasn't the whole point of their invasion of Italy to get rid of Odoacer?

It had as much as to do with getting rid of Theodoric as Odoacer.

If they just settle in the Po valley, they haven't really done that.

Not necessarily. If Theodoric kills Odoacer, and the Ostrogoths take Ravenna as per OTL, the mission is effectively complete. The southern portion of Italy will look to either Constantinople or Ravenna for protection from the Vandals.

Although the Byzantines seem more likely to take advantage of a situation like that...

As long as the Ostrogoths acknowledge the Byzantines, they should be fine. It is when they start to act like a new Western Empire that you run into trouble. Keeping Justinian out of the purple goes along way towards preventing the Byzantines from coming back to Italy. Or, have them more occupied by Sassanids with the Ostrogoths providing support.
 
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