THE SCENE: With his brilliant aptitude for military strategy, King Alaric led the Visigoths to soaring heights, culminating in the sack of Rome. After his death, though, his successor was seemingly chosen for a different brand of characteristics.
THE TEXT: Alaric, while deliberating what he should do, was suddenly overtaken by an untimely death and departed from human cares. His people mourned for him with the utmost affection. Then turning from its course the river Busentus, they led a band of captives into the midst of its bed to dig out a place for his grave. In the depths of this pit they buried Alaric, together with many treasures, and then turned the waters back into their channel. And that none might ever know the place, they put to death all the diggers. They bestowed the kingdom of the Visigoths on Athavulf his kinsman, a man of imposing beauty and great spirit; for though not tall of stature, he was distinguished for beauty of face and form.
– Getica, Jordanes, 6th Century AD
