The Fall of the Roman Empire: The Visigoths and the Successor Kingdoms

The Visigoths emerged as the first successor state to the Roman Empire in the 5th century. They settled around Toulouse in Southwest Gaul, where they established their kingdom as a separate power block within the empire. The Visigoths fought both with and against the Imperial authorities, using force when necessary. The settlement in Aquitaine granted the Visigoths tax shares instead of land as payment for their military service. Over time, the Visigoths developed a distinct ethnic identity and grew closer to the Roman population, assimilating culturally and politically. They became a landed military aristocracy, forging a new political unit on the foundations provided by the Roman Empire. The Visigothic Kingdom flourished but eventually faced challenges, leading to its downfall in Gaul in 507. The Visigoths then relocated to Spain, where they continued to dominate for the next two centuries.