Theodahad
Subtitle: A Platonic King at the Collapse of Ostrogothic Italy
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
Published: 2014
Language: eng
Number of pages: 352
ISBN-13: 9781442647831
Subjects: Goths; Italy, history; Italy, kings and rulers; Italy, biography
Description: "Educated in Platonic philosophy rather than the military arts, the Ostrogothic king Theodahad was never meant to rule. His unexpected nomination as co-regent by his cousin Queen Amalasuintha plunged him into the intrigues of the Gothic court, and Theodahad soon conspired to assassinate the queen. But, once alone on the throne, his lack of political experience and military skill made him ineffective at best and dangerously incompetent at worst. Defeated by the Byzantine emperor Justinian, Theodahad was killed by his own subjects.