War by the goths of the Northern Pontic with the antes and the huns at the end of the fourth century

Yartsev Sergey Vladimirovich

The article is devoted to the complex issue of the war between the Goths of the Northern Black Sea Region and the Antes and the Huns at the end of the 4th century. On the basis of a thorough analysis of written sources (the works of Jordanes and Ammianus Marcellinus) and archaeological data, the author concludes that the early Antes should be understood as a grouping of barbarians with a center in Tanais. This association included the Huns, the Alans-Tanaits, the Goths-Greutungs, and possibly even some of the early Slavs who had migrated to the Azov Sea region at that time. The author divides this war into three periods. The first is associated with the defeat of Odothaeus by the Romans in 386, which clearly demonstrated to the Goths of the Northern Black Sea coast the need to fight for their land, because resettlement in the territory of the Empire was now associated with great difficulties and dangers. The second period of the struggle of Vinitharius (Vinithar) with the allies of the Huns should be attributed to the year 395, when the main forces of the Akatziri went on a campaign to the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire and Vinitharius had a chance to defeat the remaining forces of nomads and their allies. Nevertheless, it is possible that the attack of Vinitharius and the Western Huns on the remaining Akatziri and other barbarians in the Northern Pontic was secretly sanctioned by the Romans themselves, so as to limit them in time the plunder of the Roman territories and to return the nomads who invaded the eastern provinces back in time. At the same time, the Romans remained completely on the sidelines, so as not to break the agreement and provoke the Akatziri to retaliate against the empire. As a result, the Ants, defeated by the Goths and Huns in the Northern Azov region in 395, were forced to retreat northwards, where they began to establish new centers of power. The third period of the Goths' struggle for their freedom is connected with the Gainas' rebellion of 399-400. Apparently, to a high-ranking Goth who planned to establish his tyrannical rule in the empire, the heroic struggle of the Goths of the Northern Black Sea area moved him to organize the resettlement of his formidable tribesmen on Roman territory. However, the death of Vinitharius thwarted Gainas' plans and ultimately cost the life of the most illustrious Goth in 400 AD.

Keywords:Northern Black Sea region, Bosporan Kingdom, Goths, Antes, Huns, Alans-Tanaits, Akatziri.