Athaulf

Athaulf (also spelled Ataulf, died 415) was a Visigothic king who reigned from 410 to 415. He succeeded his brother-in-law Alaric I as king, inheriting the leadership of the Visigoths during a crucial period of their history.

Following Alaric's sack of Rome in 410, Athaulf led the Visigoths out of Italy, initially intending to invade Sicily and North Africa. This plan ultimately proved impractical, and he instead led his people into Gaul, establishing a presence in the south of the region.

Athaulf's reign was marked by complex interactions with the Roman Empire. He initially pursued a policy of negotiation and cooperation with the Emperor Honorius. He even married Honorius' sister, Galla Placidia, whom the Visigoths had taken captive during the sack of Rome. This marriage, celebrated with Roman pomp in Narbonne in 414, was intended to solidify a political alliance and integrate the Visigoths into the Roman system.

However, the alliance proved fragile. Disputes over food supplies and Roman policy eventually led to renewed conflict. Athaulf moved his people into Hispania (modern Spain), where they continued to campaign against various Roman factions and local tribes.

Athaulf was assassinated in Barcelona in 415 by Dubius, a servant seeking personal revenge. His death further destabilized the Visigothic kingdom, paving the way for the reign of his successor, Sigeric, and eventually Wallia, who would solidify the Visigothic presence in Aquitaine and establish the foundations for the Visigothic kingdom of Toulouse. Athaulf's reign, though relatively short, was significant in the history of the Visigoths as he shifted their focus from plunder to settlement and attempted integration within the Roman world.