Suebi
The Suebi were a Germanic people composed of various tribes, including the Semnones, Marcomanni, and Chatti, who inhabited the region between the Elbe and Oder Rivers from the mid-second century BCE. Julius Caesar noted their presence in his writings during conflicts around 58 BCE. Some Suebi migrated south toward the Danube, while others remained in their northern homeland. Over time, they contributed to the formation of the Allemanni tribe and the later German territorial region known as Swabia. In the late fourth century CE, the invasions by the Huns prompted many Suebi to move into Roman Gaul. By 409 CE, they had settled in what is now Spain and were officially recognized by Rome in 411 CE. The Suebi experienced conversions to Arianism and later Catholicism, particularly under King Rechiarius. However, internal strife and the military dominance of the Visigoths eventually led to the decline of the Suebic kingdom, which became a Visigothic province around 585 CE.
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Suebi
Related civilizations: Republican and Imperial Rome.
Also known as: Suevi.
Date: c. 150 b.c.e.-600 c.e.
Locale: Germany, Gaul, northwestern Spain and Portugal
Suebi
The Germanic Suebi were constituted of a number of tribes including the Semnones, Marcomanni, Chatti, Hermunduri, Quadi, and perhaps Langobards. From the mid-second century b.c.e., these peoples were consolidating in and expanding from the region between the Elbe and Oder Rivers. In his Comentarii de bello Gallico (52-51 b.c.e.; Commentaries on the Gallic War, 1892), Julius Caesar describes battles with the Suebi as early as 58 b.c.e. Some Suebi migrated southward toward the Danube, and others remained in the northern homeland. From the Suebi who emerge as the Allemanni tribe in the fourth century comes the German territorial label Swabia (Schwaben).
The Huns’ invasions of the later fourth century c.e. pushed many Suebic tribes into Roman Gaul. By 409 c.e., they had been defeated several times in battle but migrated south toward Spain, which they reached in 409 c.e. In 411 c.e., Rome recognized their settlements in Galicia and northern Portugal and employed them against the Vandals and Visigoths. Pagan and Catholic Suebi were converted to Arianism by the Visigothic contact, but during the reign of King Rechiarius (r. 445-456 c.e.), Bishop Martin of Braga (the capital) converted many to Catholicism. Extinction of the royal line, squabbling among minor chieftains, and Visigothic military victories reduced the Suebic kingdom to a Visigothic province (c. 585 c.e.).
Bibliography
Collins, Roger. Early Medieval Spain. London: Macmillan, 1995.
Isidore of Seville. Isidore of Seville’s History of the Goths, Vandals, and Suevi. Translated by G. Donini and G. B. Ford. Leiden, Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 1970.
Wolf, Keneth B., ed. Conquerors and Chroniclers of Early Medieval Spain. Liverpool, England: Liverpool University Press, 1990.