King Athanaric of the Visigoths
381 ᛦ
Born sometime in the mid-4th century CE, Athanaric led the Visigoths as their king from 369 until his death in 381. We know next to nothing about his early life, or about his life outside of his deeds defending Ásatrú and his people. His 12 years as king were mired by conflict, both with the Christian Romans as well as Visigoths who wanted to see the Æsir forgotten among their Folk.
The early years of Athanaric’s reign was spent preserving the Gothic culture and Folksoul by stamping out the foreign faith of Christianity wherever it took root among his people. He correctly surmised that the advent of Christianity would be detrimental to his people, as well as an insult to the Æsir. He was resolute in his opposition to the foreign faith and the soul sickness it would carry for his people, going so far as to punish those who willingly severed their troth with the Æsir.
Initially during this time, Athanaric was allied with another Visigothic ruler named Fritigern, and they fought bravely against the Roman Empire together. After converting to Christianity, however, Fritigern turned on King Athanaric and started the Gothic Civil War. Athanaric won every battle he had with Fritigern and his army of traitorous Christian Visigoths, even after Fritigern received aid from Emperor Valens of Rome. Once the Visigoths who remained true to the Æsir had won the unfortunate war against their kin, however, the infamous Huns invaded from the east.
Upon this invasion, Fritigern and his fellow Christians were allowed to take refuge with the Romans, while the Ásatrú Visigoths were left to fend for themselves. They were outmanned and weakened in the aftermath of their war with Fritigern and the Christian Goths, leaving them no means of standing a chance against the relentless Huns. Athanaric and his Folk were forced out of their lands and into the Carpathians. He and his people were received by Theodosius I in Constantinople, and signed a treaty of friendship with the eastern Roman Empire.
King Athanaric was an energetic and dauntless sovereign of the Visigoths, loyal to his Gods and his Folk until the very end. Not only did he hold his own loyalty to the Æsir, but he strove with all his might to keep his whole Folk in troth with our Gods. Let us honor King Athanaric not only by raising a glass or horn in his name, but also by living Ásatrú proudly! Let us stand tall, walk proudly, and remain resolute in the face of all that would seek to separate us from the holy Æsir!
Hail King Athanaric!