Theodoric the Great

   King of the Ostrogoths (q.v.) who administered Italy (q.v.) from 493-526. He spent 10 years of his youth as a hostage in Constantinople (q.v.), where he cultivated a high regard for classical culture and civilization. Despite this, he remained illiterate, forced to use a gold stencil to sign state documents. Zeno (q.v.) encouraged him to take the Ostrogoths to Italy (qq.v.) and overthrow Odoacer (q.v.), which he did (489-493). In 497 Anastasios I (q.v.) formally recognized Theodoric's status as a kind of imperial deputy. Theodoric left the civil administration of Italy (q.v.) alone, and he even encouraged writers like Boethius and Cassiodorus (q.v.). Boethius wrote his Consolation of Philosophy while in prison for alleged treason. Despite the fact that the Ostrogoths embraced Arianism (q.v.), Theodoric left alone the Orthodox population of Italy. In this and in most other respects he was among the most remarkable rulers of his age. His stone mausoleum in Ravenna (q.v.) recalls imperial mausolea of an earlier age. His other monuments in Ravenna include what are thought to be the ruins of his palace, a church (S. Apollinare Nuovo), and a baptistry, the latter two of which were intended for his Arian followers.