We begin with a look at some of the treasures from Sutton Hoo and the art-historical connections they reveal between the Wuffings and the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy. We shall then look at the rise of the Ostrogoths under their great king Theodric the Good and how, after his death in 526, their kingdom was destroyed by the Byzantines, especially under the leadership of the famous general Belisarius. It was the propaganda of the Byzantine enemy which came to overshadow the reputation of the Goths in the history of Christendom, and which has led to their association with darkness. In contrast, they were often held in high honour in Old English and related heroic verse. We then shall consider the significance of the phonological equivalence of the name of one of the last kings of the Ostrogoths in Italy, the much-admired Totila (killed in battle in 552), to that of Tytla, the father of King Rædwald (died c. 625). This equivalence, along with other Ostrogothic names which appear among the ruling families of late sixth-century Britain, form a pattern – a ‘Gothic horizon’. The implication of all this is that the Ostrogoths may have played a part in the formation of some of the early kingdoms of England, especially the Wuffing kingdom of the Eastern Angles.
A coin of the Ostrogothic king Baduila, known to the contemporary historian Procopius as Totila (killed in the battle 552). The name Totila is phonologically equivalent to that of Rædwald's father, Tytla. Thanks to Wikimedia Commons for the image.
Provisional Timetable 10.15 – 11.15: Sutton Hoo and the Ostrogoths 11.15-11.45: Coffee-break. 11.45 – 12.45: The Rise of the Ostrogoths 12.45-13.45: Lunch-break. 13.45-14.45: The Fall of the Ostrogoths and the Beginnings of England
The face of the great Ostrogothic king Theodric, king of Goths and Romans (died 30th August 526). Detail from a gold medallion now in Palazzo Massimo all Terme Museum, Rome. The inscription reads REX THEODERICUS PIUS PRINCIS, which either means ' King Theodric pious ruler' or 'King Theodric always invincible ruler'. Note the distinctive style of the moustache and the similarity to that on the face on the helmet from the Sutton Hoo ship-burial. Thanks to Wikimedia Commons for this Public Domain image.
Please note that you will have to book each event separately on Eventbrite.
Study-days will continue online for the time being.
Online study-days start at 10.15 and usually finish at 14.45, with a timetable of three, one-hour sessions with breaks in between. Precise timings may vary depending on discussion and potential broadband signal blips.
Please note that these are live, online events only - there are no recordings available afterwards.
Study-Days in Zoom-land
Online study-days are usually overseen by a chairman to ensure the event runs smoothly. To avoid disruptions during presentations, participants will be ‘muted’, but questions can be raised via the Zoom text-chat box for the chairman to marshal for the Q & A time near the end of each session. Click here to see how to operate Zoom.
Tickets
Individual ticket: £30 per person
Ticket for Two: £45 - suitable for two friends viewing on one screen.
Cancellations
You may cancel your booking up to 24 hours before the start of the event.
You will receive a refund via Eventbrite (usually less Eventbrite’s service charge - about £3 for an individual ticket or £4 for a couple ticket).
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