Editing Theodoric the Great (section)

== Youth and early exploits ==
Theodoric was born in AD 454 in [[Pannonia]] on the banks of the [[Neusiedler See]] near [[Carnuntum]], the son of king [[Theodemir (Ostrogothic king)|Theodemir]], a [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] [[Amal dynasty|Amali]] nobleman, and his concubine [[Ereleuva]].{{sfn|Wiemer|2023|p=83}} This was just a year after the Ostrogoths had thrown off nearly a century of domination by the [[Huns]]. To this end, historian Hans-Ulrich Wiemer states that, "Theodoric’s childhood was spent at a time of violent conflicts between non-Roman groups attempting to fill the power vacuum created by the collapse of Attila’s empire".{{sfn|Wiemer|2023|p=83}} His Gothic name, which is reconstructed by [[linguists]] as ''*Þiudareiks'', translates into "people-king" or "ruler of the people".{{sfn|Langer|1968|p=159}}

In 461, when Theodoric was seven or eight years of age, he was taken hostage in [[Constantinople]] to secure the Ostrogoths' compliance with a treaty Theodemir had concluded with the ''augustus'' [[Leo I (emperor)|Leo I]] (ruled 457–474). Under the terms of the treaty, the Pannonian Goths were required to "surrender a hostage of royal descent" to the emperor's court; in this case that hostage was Theodoric.{{sfn|Wiemer|2023|p=84}} The treaty also secured a payment to Constantinople of some 300 pounds' worth of gold each year.{{sfn|Heather|2013|pp=4–5}} Theodoric was well educated by Constantinople's best teachers.{{sfn|Johnson|1988|p=73}} His status made him valuable, since the Amal family from which he came (as told by Theodoric),{{sfn|Geary|1999|p=122}} allegedly ruled half of all Goths since the third century AD. Historian Peter Heather argues that Theodoric's claims were likely self-aggrandizing propaganda and that the Amal dynasty was more limited than modern commentators presume.{{sfn|Heather|2013|p=6}} Until 469, Theodoric remained in Constantinople where he spent formative years "catching up on all the ''Romanitas''" it had taken generations of Visigothic [[Balthi]] to acquire.{{sfn|Wolfram|1988|p=262}} Theodoric was treated with favor by the emperor Leo I.{{sfn|Wolfram|1988|p=263}} He learned to read, write and perform arithmetic while in captivity in the Eastern Empire.{{sfn|Frassetto|2003|p=335}}

When Leo heard that his imperial army was retreating from the Goths near Pannonia, he sent Theodoric home with gifts and no promises of any commitments.{{sfn|Wolfram|1988|p=265}}{{efn|Historian [[Herwig Wolfram]] suggests this gesture by Leo may have been taken to elevate the Pannonian Goths against his former general, the rebellious Aspar, who had joined up with the leader of the Thracian Goths, Theodoric Strabo.{{sfn|Wolfram|1988|pp=264–265}}}} On his return in 469/470, Theodoric assumed leadership over the Gothic regions previously ruled by his uncle, [[Valamir]], while his father became king. Not long afterwards near [[Singidunum]] (modern [[Belgrade]]) in upper [[Moesia]], the [[Tisza]] Sarmatian king [[Babai (king)|Babai]] had extended his authority at Constantinople's expense. Legitimizing his position as a warrior, Theodoric crossed the Danube with six thousand warriors, defeated the Sarmatians and killed Babai; this moment likely crystallized his position and marked the beginning of his kingship, despite not actually having yet assumed the throne.{{sfn|Wolfram|1988|p=267}} Perhaps to assert his authority as an Amali prince, Theodoric kept the conquered area of Singidunum for himself.{{sfn|Burns|1991|p=56}}

Throughout the 470s, sometimes in the name of the empire itself, Theodoric launched campaigns against potential Gothic rivals and other enemies of the Eastern Empire, which made him an important military and political figure. One of his chief rivals was the chieftain of the Thracian Goths [[Theodoric Strabo]] (Strabo means "the Squinter"), who had led a major revolt against the emperor [[Zeno (emperor)|Zeno]]. Finding common ground with the emperor, Theodoric was rewarded by Zeno and made commander of East Roman forces, while his people became ''[[foederati]]'' or federates of the Roman army.{{sfn|Frassetto|2003|p=337}} In 471, Theodoric was recognized as King of the Ostrogoths by 6,000 Goths that had previously rebelled against the Hunnic ruler [[Dengizich]] in 467–468.{{sfn|Kim|2013|p=242}}

Zeno attempted to play one Germanic chieftain against another and take advantage of an opportunity sometime in 476/477 when—after hearing demands from Theodoric for new lands since his people were facing a famine—he offered Theodoric Strabo the command once belonging to Theodoric. Enraged by this betrayal, Theodoric turned his wrath against the communities in the [[Rhodope Mountains]], where his forces commandeered livestock and slaughtered peasants, sacked and burned [[Stobi]] in [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] and requisitioned supplies from the archbishop at [[Heraclea Sintica|Heraclea]].{{sfn|Burns|1991|pp=58–59}} Gothic plundering finally elicited a settlement from Zeno, but Theodoric initially refused any compromise. Theodoric sent one of his confidants, Sidimund, forward to [[Epidaurum]] for negotiations with Zeno.{{sfn|Burns|1991|p=59}} While the Roman envoy and Theodoric were negotiating, Zeno sent troops against some of Theodoric's wagons, which were under the protection of his able general Theodimund. Unaware of this treachery, Theodoric's Goths lost around 2,000 wagons and 5,000 of his people were taken captive.{{sfn|Burns|1991|p=63}}

Theodoric settled his people in [[Epirus]] in 479 with the help of his relative [[Sidimund]]. In 482, he raided Greece and sacked Larissa. Bad luck, rebellions and poor decisions left Zeno in an unfortunate position,{{efn|One of the events comprising Zeno's bad luck was the untimely death of Theodoric Strabo in 481; he was thrown from a horse and impaled on a tent lance. Otherwise, contends Wolfram, Theodoric might not ever have become "the Great".{{sfn|Wolfram|1988|p=276}}}} which subsequently led him to seek another agreement with Theodoric. In 483, Zeno made Theodoric ''[[magister militum]] praesentalis''{{sfn|Elton|2018|p=204}} and consul designate in 484, whereby he commanded the Danubian provinces of Dacia Ripensis and Moesia Inferior as well as the adjacent regions.{{sfn|Burns|1991|p=64}}