The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Theodoric the Great

(also Theodoricus, Theoderich). Born circa 454 in Pannonia; died Aug. 26, 526, in Ravenna.

Theodoric became king of the Ostrogoths in 493 and founded the Ostrogothic state in Italy. Having invaded Italy in 488, Theodoric seized power after he overthrew and assassinated Odoacer. He expressed the interests of the feudalized Ostrogothic aristocracy, which drew closer to the Roman aristocracy, and retained Roman institutions in his rule and legislation. The strengthening of central authority under Theodoric promoted the development of land cultivation, commerce, learning, and art.

References in periodicals archive

It comprises four main sections, the first of which, 'Dietrichsage und Dietrichdichtung', surveys the historical background of Theodoric the Great and the emergence of clerical and vernacular traditions linked to the Theodoric-Dietrich figure from the sixth century to the early modern period.

Einfuhrung in die mittelhochdeutsche Dietrichepik

Dietrich von Bern Heroic figure of Germanic legend, apparently derived from Theodoric the Great, an Ostrogothic king of Italy who reigned from 493 to 526 AD.

Dietrich von Bern

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