The Ostrogoths were a Germanic people who emerged in the 4th century AD in the area of Eastern Europe, in the region corresponding to present-day Ukraine. They distinguished themselves as one of the Gothic tribes, an East Germanic ethnic group. In the 5th century AD, under their king Theodoric the Great, the Ostrogoths conquered and ruled Italy, founding a kingdom that lasted until the Byzantine conquest in the year 553 AD.
The Ostrogoths played a significant role in the evolution of Western Europe during the transition period between the Western Roman Empire and the Middle Ages. Under Theodoric's rule, Ostrogothic Italy was characterized by a degree of stability and prosperity. Theodoric himself sought to maintain a balance between his Gothic identity and Roman tradition, encouraging administrative and cultural continuity.
However, after Theodoric's death, the Ostrogothic kingdom came into conflict with the Byzantine Empire, which attempted to reconquer Italy. This conflict led to the Gothic War, which ultimately saw Italy fall back under Byzantine control. The Ostrogoths as an ethnic group continued to exist, but their kingdom in Italy ceased to exist as an independent political entity.
