# Theodoric the Great in Moesia (483–488)

URL: https://allhistories.com/bulgaria/timeline/483-theodoric-the-great-in-moesia
Location: Novae
Themes: Key Events

In 483 Emperor Zeno made the Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Amal magister militum praesentalis and consul designate for 484, giving him command over the Danubian provinces of Dacia Ripensis and Moesia Inferior. His people, settled as federates on the lower Danube, formed a kingdom within the empire; the fortress of Novae near modern Svishtov is traditionally regarded as his base. Relations with the emperor remained tense. By 486 open hostilities had returned, and in 487 Theodoric blockaded Constantinople. Zeno resolved the problem by commissioning him to overthrow Odoacer, king of Italy, and in the autumn of 488 Theodoric led the Ostrogoths out of Moesia towards Italy.

## Why it matters
The departure of the Ostrogoths ended the Gothic presence that had dominated the Bulgarian lands since 376, but it also left Thrace and Moesia exposed to raids by the Bulgars and other peoples.

Ruler at the Time: [Eastern Roman Emperors (395-527)](https://allhistories.com/bulgaria/rulers/eastern-roman-emperors-395-527)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Theodoric the Great](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodoric_the_Great)
- [Wikipedia — Ostrogoths](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrogoths)
- [Wikipedia — Novae (fortress)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novae_(fortress))
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Theodoric the Great in Moesia](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Theodoric+the+Great+in+Moesia)
- [Wikipedia — Migration Period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migration_Period)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of Bulgarian history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Bulgarian_history)