I was looking at this one from my collection and figured, since I got it a good while back, now wouldn't be a bad time for a re-introduction.
With the death of the elderly King Theodoric the Great in 526 AD, the Ostrogothic Kingdom in Italy would suffer from ineffectual leadership for approximately the next decade. First was the reign of the indulgent Athalaric, for which his mother Amalasuntha ruled in his place as regent on account of the boy's youth. Athalaric died in 534 AD, and so the unpopular Amalasuntha raised her cousin Theodahad, nephew of the late Theodoric and the largest landowner in Italy at the time, to the throne as co-ruler.
Perhaps to appease the Gothic nobles who had shown displeasure with the queen and her policies, Theodahad had Amalasuntha exiled and imprisoned on an island in Lake Bolsena (in central Italy). Her exile would not last long, as she was later murdered in her bath, on Theodahad's orders. The assassination of a classically educated, pro-Roman ruler did not sit well with the reigning emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire), Justinian, who had allied with Amalasuntha before her death. Theodahad quickly realized the error of his act, and, fearing Justinian's wrath, apologized profusely and desperately tried to placate the powerful Roman emperor. But it was all in vain, as Justinian had his army and navy invade Italy in 535, out of revenge for Amalasuntha's murder (although, his ambition to restore Italy and the other lost western provinces to the Roman Empire was probably the real motive for the invasion). The Ostrogoths quickly lost southern Italy and Dalamtia to the Roman army, which soon was bearing down on Rome. These losses, coupled with Theodahad's poor leadership, led to his overthrow by the Gothic army, and he was replaced as king by the soldier Witiges. On Witiges's orders, Theodahad was captured and executed in late 536 as he tried to flee to Ravenna, the Ostrogothic capital.
Although a barbarian like the rest of his people, Theodahad was quite fond of classical learning and the arts during his lifetime, one of his topics of interest being Plato and his works.
This coin type is very rare, a cut above the rare anonymous Roma and Ravenna types, on account of it bearing the king's name. Athalaric and later Witiges and Baduila also struck coins with their names and effigies.
Theodahad, Ostrogothic Kingdom
AE Decanummium
Obv: INVICT-A ROMA, Roma helmeted, facing right
Rev: DN-THEODA-HATHVS-REX within wreath, X below
Mint: Rome, struck 534-536 AD
Ref: COI 90
Posted 08/17/2014 08:59 am
; Theodahad was my first major purchase over $100.
