Originating on the shores of the Baltic (probably in “Gotland”, Sweden), this people moved south-eastwards in the second century CE and expanded in the Ukraine during the third century. There they developed remarkable skills as horsemen and their cavalry became feared for its ability with the sword and bow. The Goths divided into the Ostrogoths (Eastern Goths) east of the Dneiper and the Visigoths to the west. The Visigoths forced the Romans to evacuate Dacia (modern Romania) in the middle of the third century, ravaged the Balkans and threatened Constantinople, but they were defeated at the Battle of Naissus in 268. This battle concluded a series of campaigns against the Goths led by the Emperor although the victory itself was attributed to the next Emperor, Claudius II, who is…
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Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "The Goths". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 16 November 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1624, accessed 23 November 2024.]
