Goar (Alane)

Goar (* before 390; † around 450) was a leader of the Alans during their invasion of Gaul in 406. He then joined the Romans and played a role in the regional history of Gaul. Edit LifeQualtext

In the Silversternacht 406/407 the Asdinigischen and Silingischen Vandalen together with Quaden, Alanen, Sueben and Alamannen used the weakness of the Roman Empire, which was engaged with the defense of the Visigoths in Italy, to the crossing of the Rhine with Mainz. The Alans were under the command of Goars and Respendials. They probably originated from Pannonia, where the alans are mentioned around 380. Franconian Federations of Rome tried to fight the invading Teutons, but they succeeded in killing Godigisel, the leader of the Ascetic Vandals, but the Franks were defeated by Alanese troops under Respendial. According to the report of Gregory of Tours (based on the lost history of Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus today), Goar had "gone to the Romans", although it is unclear whether he had already fought against his own people at the Rhine crossing of 406. In any case, he stayed in Gaul, while the Germans moved on to the Iberian peninsula.

In the year 411, Goar appears in connection with the usurpation of Jovinus, who, with the aid of the Burgundians, rose up under Emperor Gundahar in Mainz; Goar was also involved. As early as 407 Constantine III. in Gaul also declared Emperor. Constantine was besieged and beheaded in Arles in the autumn of this year by troops under Constantius III, who were loyal to Emperor Honorius. Now Jovinus threatened that he would go with Burgundies, Alamanns, Franks, and Alans against Constantius; probably Goar was in his wake. The Visigoths had ransacked Rome and marched to Gaul, and it was unclear how their leader Athaulf would intervene in the Gallic throne rivalries. He finally decided to seize for Honorius, and defeated Jovinus in Valence. What happened to Jovinus' Germanic supporters is not handed down.

In the year 414, the Visigoths again turned against the Romans, whose base in Bazas (today's department of Gironde) besieged them, supported by Alanan flocks. According to the report of the Pauline of Pella, the leader of the Alans (possibly Goar) had changed sides and had crossed over to the Romans, whereupon the Visigoths had to break the siege and turn to Spain. For the year 446, a confrontation of Bishop Germanus of Auxerre with Alans is reported under an "Eochar"; here too the identification with Goar is uncertain, especially since the Alans in Gaul were now under the rule of a Sambida. In any case, the Alans involved in these incidents are certainly the same as those who fought the Attila on the side of the Romans, Visigoths, and Franks in the Catalan Fields on the side of the Romans. At this point, Goar is likely to have been dead.

The most important sources for the Alans in Gaul are, in addition to Gregor of Tours Olympiodoros of Thebes, Paulinus of Pella and Constantius of Lyon. Edit source text

wiki