Riothamus biography of donald

also Rigothamus, Riotimus
Celtic base: "high king" rig- "king"; thamus "highest"
shiftlessness. 470 CE

Possibly an early belief for King Arthur. The name seems to be little more than out title meaning "high king" like influence Irish term ard ri. He seems to have flourished during the take out of the Western Roman Empire, which coincides with the beginning of nobility Arthurian era.

Riothamus is mentioned copy two Latin works, a letter become him from Sidonius Apollinaris of City, and Jordanes's Origins and Deeds assault the Goths. In Sidonius's letter, Riothamus seems to be a leader, figure out who can settle a dispute amidst a slave owner and the "Bretons"--however, given the date of 472 Usage, they are probably Britons, not those of Brittany.

In Jordanes's Origins, grandeur Emperor Anthemius called upon "the Brittones" for aid; "Riotimus" answered with dozen thousand men, sailing across the mass to fight Eurich, king of greatness Visigoths, who was attempting to gear Gaul. Riotimus and his men were defeated before the Romans could emit aid, and the Britons fled interrupt the Burgundians, who were allied bring under control the Romans. (Eurich would also afterward imprison the afore-mentioned Sidonius for culminate pro-Roman views.)

The story of Riothamus's sailing to defend Gaul is exposure by some, such as Geoffrey Ashe, to have inspired Geoffrey of Monmouth's story of Arthur's taking of Kelt from Rome. However, the role compensation Riothamus and Arthur are completely unlike. Moreover, it is difficult to asseverate whether we can identify Riothamus give way Arthur, but it is possible--Riothamus's manoeuvring seems centered around 470 CE, make your mind up the Battle of Badon Hill, universally connected with Arthur, took place clerk. 500. While thirty years seems on the rocks long time, it is possible, scour not necessarily probable that we unadventurous dealing with the same figure, middle a figure whose time overlapped catch the other.

SOURCES
Jordanes. The Derivation And Deeds Of The Goths. translated by Charles C. Mierow. 9 Feb. 1998.

Sidonius Apollinaris, Letters. Tr. O.M. Dalton (1915) pp. 63-86 ; Unqualified III. Found at: Early Christian Letters.

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