Alaric

Alaric is a masculine given name of Gothic origin, commonly understood as meaning “ruler of all” or “all-powerful ruler,” from Gothic elements meaning “all” and “ruler.” The name has been used across Europe in various languages, with several notable historical figures bearing it.

The most prominent bearer is Alaric I (c. 370–410), king of the Visigoths. He led large-scale movements against the Roman Empire, crossing the Balkans and into Italy. In 410 he besieged and sacked Rome, an event that marked a turning point in late antiquity. He died during the Italian campaign, and his death was followed by the temporary collapse of Visigothic plans to establish a permanent eastern frontier.

Alaric II (d. 507) was another Visigothic king, ruling from Toulouse from 484 until his death at the Battle of Vouillé, where he was defeated by Clovis I. His reign is associated with the consolidation of Visigothic rule in the Gaul-Spanish territories and with notable legal and administrative reforms characteristic of the period, often linked to the Visigothic Code.

Beyond these rulers, the name Alaric has appeared in medieval and modern contexts as a given name, used in various European languages and sometimes in literature and fiction. Variants include Alarico in Italian and Spanish, Alarik in German, and similar forms in other languages.

Alaric’s legacy lies in its association with Gothic royalty and the broader history of the late Roman world, illustrating the interplay between Germanic kingdoms and the collapsing Western Empire.