Theodoric I

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Theodoric I, sometimes called Theodorid and in Spanish and Italian Teodorico, was the King of the Visigoths from 419–451. He was the illegitimate son of Alaric. In 419 he succeeded King Wallia.

As king he completed the settlement of the Visigoths in Aquitaine and expanded his realm into Hispania. During his rule the Visigoths were enemies and then allies of the Roman Empire. The most renowned event in his reign was the Battle of Chalons, where he assisted Aëtius in forcing Attila the Hun to retreat and abandon his campaign to ransack the western empire. Theodoric fell off his horse and was accidentally trampled by thousands of his own cavalry. Theodoric's son and later successor, Thorismund, took over the Visigothic army in his father's stead and helped win the day.

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