The Goths, Gepids, Vandals, and Burgundians were East Germanic groups who appear in Roman records in late antiquity. At times these groups warred against or allied with the Roman Empire, the Huns, and various Germanic tribes.
The size and social composition of their armies remains controversial.
History In the 3rd century, some Germanic people of the Baltic Sea (associated with the Wielbark culture) followed the Vistula, Bug, and Dnestr rivers and settled among the Dacians, Sarmatians, Bastarnae, and other peoples of the Black Sea steppes. These Germanic people brought their name and language to the Gothic people who emerged in the 3rd century (associated with the Chernyakhov Culture).
At the same time, other Germanic people of the Baltic Sea (associated with the Przeworsk culture) followed other trade routes to the middle-Danubian plains (Vandals) or the Main river (Burgundians).
Horse nomads with bow-armed cavalry armies, including the Sarmatians (or Iazyges, Roxolanni, Taifali, and Alans) had long ruled the plains north of the Danube and the steppes north of the Black Sea (since about 1200 BC). (The Goths and Vandals were mainly farmers with infantry armies). In some areas, the Sarmatians, Taifali, and Alans preserved their dominance until the Huns arrived.
The Gothic people had divided into two or more groups by the end of the 3rd century. These groups lasted from the late 3rd century to the late 4th century. The Thervingi lived between the Danube and the Carpathians west of the Dniester River; the Greuthungi, and possibly other groups, lived east of the Dniester River.
Jordanes, a mid 6th-century historian, describes a large Greuthung kingdom in the late 4th century, but Ammianus Marcellinus, a late 4th-century historian, does not record this. Many modern historians, including Peter Heather and Michael Kulikowski, doubt that it was ever particularly extensive (and suggest one or more smaller kingdoms).Heather, Peter, 1998, The Goths, Blackwell, Malden, pp. 53–55.Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, Rome's Gothic Wars, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, pp. 54–56, 111–112.
Troop types Gothic armies were primarily composed of heavy infantry equipped with a shield, spatha or scramasax and the occasional francisca and pike formed in wedge formation, with a supporting heavy cavalry force equipped with lance and sword. Although Goths were the first of the Germanic tribes to place more honour in fighting on horse than on foot, equipping cavalrymen was expensive and infantry remained the larger force. Visigoths had fewer cavalry, Ostrogoths had more cavalry than the Roman army, while Vandals were dominated by cavalry.
Cavalry mainly took the form of heavy, close combat cavalry armed with sword and lance. Goths and likely Vandals as well favoured a long heavy lance of Sarmatian origin, the contus, which stood at 3.74m long. The Goths also recruited mounted archers from the Alans and Sarmatians, and light sword cavalry from the Heruli and Taifali, although all of these also fielded lancers. For a Gothic or Vandal nobleman the most common form of armour was a mail shirt, often reaching down to the knees, and an iron or steel helmet, often in a Roman Ridge helm style. Some of the wealthiest warriors may have a worn a lamellar cuirass over mail, and splinted greaves and vambraces on the forearms and forelegs.
Realms in the Roman Empire This Gothic society faced internal strife and Hunnish attacks in the late 4th century. As a result, several groups sought refuge in the Roman Empire; two of the more successful groups, the Thervings and Greuthungs, absorbed smaller groups and gained independence within the Roman Empire. Another group, the Crimean Goths, survived on the Black Sea. The Vandals and Burgundians shared similar histories.
The Visigothic and Burgundian kingdoms in Gaul fell to Clovis' Frankish invasions in the early 6th century;Heather, Peter, 1998, The Goths, pp. 210–215 & 262. the Vandal kingdom in north Africa and the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy and Illyria fell to Justinian I's Byzantine invasions by the mid 6th century.Heather, Peter, 1998, The Goths, pp. 259–276. The Visigothic kingdom in Hispania survived (despite losing most of their old Gallic territory) until the Islamic conquest of Hispania in the early 8th century.
Gothic society and forces in the 3rd and 4th centuries
The Gothic tribes did not have long-term standing armies but relied on short-term levies or volunteers. Most would return to their farms after some time. Most came on foot and fought as infantry, though some brought horses and fought as cavalry. Like their Roman opponents, most soldiers had thrusting spears, throwing spears, and shields, though swords and bows were also used. Unlike their Roman opponents, few could afford metal armor.Elton, Hugh, Warfare in Roman Europe, AD 350–425, pp. 57–59.Todd, Malcolm, The Early Germans, pp. 36–37.
Major wars: Gothic raid on Histria (238)Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, Rome's Gothic Wars, p. 18. Gothic raid on Marcianople (249) Cniva's Gothic raid on Philippopolis (250–251) Seaborne raids on the Balkans (c. 252)Zosimus, Historia Nova, book 1. Seaborne raids on Asia Minor (c. 256)Philostorgius, Church History, book 2, chapter 5.Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, Rome's Gothic Wars, pp. 18–19. Seaborne raid on the Aegean (c. 268)Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, Rome's Gothic Wars, pp. 19–20. Gothic raids on the Balkans (c. 270)Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, Rome's Gothic Wars, p. 20. Aurelian's Roman raids north of the Danube (c. 271)Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, Rome's Gothic Wars, pp. 20–21. Gothic raids on Asia Minor (c. 275) Gothic (?) raids in the Balkans (c. 330?)Socrates Scholasticus, Church History, book 1, chapter 18. Constantine II's Roman invasion north of the Danube (332)Sozomen, Church History, book 1, chapter 8 & book 2, chapter 34.Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, Rome's Gothic Wars, pp. 83–84. Julian's Roman invasion of Persia (363) (?)Zosimus, Historia Nova, book 3. Roman Civil War between Procopius and Valens (365)Ammianus Marcellinus, Historiae, book 26, chapters 6–10.Zosimus, Historia Nova, book 4.Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, Rome's Gothic Wars, pp. 114–115. Valens' raids on the Thervings (367–369)Ammianus Marcellinus, Historiae, book 27, chapter 5.Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, Rome's Gothic Wars, pp. 115–116. Hunnic raids on the Greuthungs (c. 370)Ammianus Marcellinus, Historiae, book 31, chapter 3.Philostorgius, Church History, book 9, chapter 17.Sozomen, Church History, book 6, chapter 37.Heather, Peter, 1998, Goths, pp. 98–104.Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, Rome's Gothic Wars, pp. 124–128. Hunnic raids on the Thervings (c. 376) Gothic revolt in the Balkans (c. 376–382)Ammianus Marcellinus, Historiae, book 31, chapters 5–16.Socrates Scholasticus, Church History, book 4, chapters 34–38 & book 5, chapter 1.Sozomen, Church History, book 6, chapters 37 & 40.Heather, Peter, 1998, Goths, pp. 130–138.Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, Rome's Gothic Wars, pp. 130–153. Gothic Civil War between Fritigern & Athanaric (?)Socrates Scholasticus, Church History, book 4, chapter 33. (Socrates puts this before 376).Zosimus, Historia Nova, book 4. (Zosimus puts this after 376). Odotheus' crossing of the Danube (?)Zosimus, Historia Nova, book 4. (Zosimus puts this before 383)Philostorgius, Church History, book 10, chapter 6.Heather, Peter, 1998, Goths, pp. 103, 128 & 167
Notable battles: Abrittus (251) Naissus (268) Marcianople (376/77) Ad Salices (377) Adrianople (378)
Difference of scale The 3rd- and 4th-century Gothic tribes could not match the population or extent of the Roman Empire. The 4th-century Thervingi settled over about 100,000 km2 between the Carpathian mountains, Olt river, Danube river, and Pruth river. (The Eastern Roman Empire held about 1,500,000 km2 in round numbers). The destruction of one Gothic army would leave its tribe vulnerable to Roman attacks; the destruction of one Roman army could be countered by other Roman armies moving into the war zone (as happened after Adrianople). Therefore, 3rd- and 4th-century Gothic armies could not take as many risks as Roman armies could.
Defending Gothic settlements (on the steppe)
The Gothic people generally settled in unwalled farming settlements along the main rivers. These settlements were vulnerable to Roman, Hunnish, or other attacks, even by small raiding parties.Heather, Peter & Matthews, John, The Goths in the Fourth Century, pp. 56–59.
Valens and the Roman army invaded Therving lands in 367 and 369. Athanaric and his supporters avoided battle; his army abandoned the Danubian plains and retreated into the Carpathian Mountains. The Goths could not defeat the Romans in battle and defend their homes.Elton, Hugh, Warfare in Roman Europe, AD 350–425, p 221-227
Alan and Hunnic raiders attacked various Gothic lands in the 370s; they attacked Therving lands c. 375. Athanaric and his supporters sought battle; the main Gothic army assembled on the Dnestr river, with forward units scouted 30 km ahead. The Hunnic raiders avoided the scouts and attacked the main army at night.
Attacking Roman territory (by land)
The Roman Empire fortified most of its cities and frontier garrisons in the 3rd and 4th centuries. Fortified settlements were relatively safe from Gothic attacks.Elton, Hugh, Warfare in Roman Europe, AD 350–425, pp. 155–174.
Gothic attackers could choose unfortified targets; these included many cities in the 3rd century, but were generally restricted to smaller towns and villae by the 4th century, as more cities were fortified. Alternatively, they could attack fortified targets, relying on surprise, on treachery, or on siege warfare.
Attacking Roman territory (by sea)
In the 3rd century, several Gothic campaigns went by sea. In the 4th century, few, if any, Gothic campaigns went by sea.
Revolts
As soon as large Gothic groups settled on Roman territory, they faced military conflicts with the Roman government (as in the Gothic War (376–382)).
Gothic and Vandal forces in the Late Roman army
The Late Roman army (or East Roman army for the east) often recruited non-Roman soldiers into regular military units, as well as separate allied contingents (of laeti and foederati). Most soldiers were probably Romans, many were probably non-Roman.Elton, Hugh, 1996, Warfare in Roman Europe, pp. 145–152. [Elton argues from the proportion of Roman names to non-Roman names from 350 to 476]
Notable battles: Frigidus River (394)
Germanic forces in the Hunnic army
By the early 5th century, Hunnic elites established their hegemony in Eastern and Central Europe by subduing or dislodging the local elites. The Hunnic rulers had thus an empire at their disposal with the resources of subject people who were required to supply additional forces for their ongoing raids and conquests. The most memorable of their rulers became Attila, who eventually challenged the Roman Empire for supremacy.
After the death of Attila, one of his subject rulers, Ardaric, waged a successful civil war against the heirs of Attila, helping several tribes to break apart and regain their independence.
Notable battles: Chalons (451) Nedao River (454)
Visigothic armies (396–507)
During the Gothic revolt of 376, a mixed Gothic group settled in Moesia. By the 390s Alaric had become the client king of the Visigoths under the Roman Empire.
Between 395 and 418, Alaric, Athawulf, and their immediate successors fought several campaigns, seeking offices for themselves and support for their followers. They transferred their base of operations from the eastern Balkans (395) to the western Balkans (397), Italy (408), and Aquitaine (c. 415).
These successive movements may have divided the army from much of its population base.
Notable wars: Revolt of Alaric I Gothic War (401–403) Gothic War (436–439) Chalons (451) First Franco-Visigothic war (496–498)
Visigothic armies (507–711)
Notable wars: Franco–Gothic War (507–511) Guadalete (711)