The emergence of the kingdoms

Apuntes

The emergence of the kingdoms The Western Roman Empire broke up into a number of smaller kingdoms between the 5th and the 7th centuries. (5) The Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Burgundians, Suevi and Alans made up the first wave of settlers. They reached as far as the Península Ibérica and North Africa. The most important kingdoms of this period were the Ostrogoths, Visigoths and Burgundians. In a second wave of invasions, the Franks, the Alamans, the Angles and the Saxons founded kingdoms that lasted for a long time. Later, the Lombards established themselves in Italy, (4) and the Avars settled in the plains of central and eastern Europe. Political organisation The Germanic tribes followed unwritten laws that were passed down orally from one generation to the next. Each kingdom was ruled by a king, who had a council to help him to govern. At first, the kings were chosen by nobles, but many were deposed or assassinated. Over time, the monarchy became hereditary. In some areas, military power was held by dukes. They were usually chieftains who had conquered several towns. Counts and bishops held great power in cities. The Visigoth Kingdom In the year 409, the Suevi, Alans a...