Editing Ostrogoths (section)

====5th-century Thracian Goths====
The 5th century Thracian Goths, according to Peter Heather, had probably become unified only in about the 460s, although they probably lived in the area since the 420s when a group of Goths under Hunnic influence already in Pannonia were detached and settled there.{{sfn|Heather|2003|pp=88, 91}} Wolfram has proposed that Theoderic Strabo was an Amal, whose father had split with Theoderic's branch only as recently as the time of the Battle of Nadao.{{sfn|Wolfram|1988|pp=32, 260}}

They formed a military force which was loyal to [[Aspar]], the East Roman ''magister militum'' ("master of soldiers") of Alanic-Gothic descent, who was killed in 471. Aspar's death saw a change in the East Roman approach to Gothic military forces which he had been allied to. Theoderic Strabo led a revolt in 473 and was declared king of the Goths. As Wolfram noted, "His elevation as king in Thrace in 473 parallels the elevation of [[Odoacer]] in 476. [...] A Roman federate army sought to force through its demands by making its general king".{{sfn|Wolfram|1988|p=268}} He demanded to be recognized as the "sole Gothic king to whom all deserters had to be returned [...] and he further demanded the settling of his people in Thrace as well as the surrender of the institutional and material inheritance of Aspar. It took more bloodshed and devastation before the emperor formally agreed to the demands and promised in addition to pay two thousand pounds of gold each year." In return his Goths were ready to fight for Rome, except for a campaign against the [[Vandal kingdom]] in North Africa.{{sfn|Wolfram|1988|p=269}}

With the death of [[Leo II (Emperor)|Emperor Leo II]], and the succession of Aspar's old rival [[Zeno (Emperor)|Emperor Zeno]] in 474, the situation for the old Gothic party became increasingly difficult in the eastern empire, and Theoderic Strabo lost the support of the emperor. The younger Theoderic, son of Theodemir, was able to benefit from this.{{sfn|Wolfram|1988|p=270}}