88 Arnold
of the Rhône) and those that he ruled on behalf of his grandson Amalaric.
Indeed all of these provinces became part of the re-established prefecture of
the Gauls, while the Spanish sources make it clear that Theoderic was the king
of the Visigoths, not the regent of his grandson, about whom nothing is heard
until after Theoderic’s death.79 It may be that the union of both kingdoms was
supposed to be permanent, and Theoderic’s choice of a successor at this time,
Eutharic, an Amal suddenly “discovered” living among the Visigoths, married
to his daughter, and adopted by the emperor as his son-in-arms, is certainly
suggestive of this possibility.80
At any rate the actual date for the re-establishment of this Gallic prefec-
ture is a matter of some debate, but there was clearly a prefect ruling from
Arles (the old prefectural capital) no later than 510/11, namely Liberius, who
held this office until 534.81 The Variae provides surprisingly few details about
Liberius and his functions at this time, but other sources attest to the fact that
he was the chief representative of the Ostrogothic regime in the region and
that his sphere of command included important civil and military functions.82
Far more is known of Gemellus, who was also based at Arles and served as
vicar to the prefect beginning in 508. Perhaps initially a subordinate of the pre-
fect of Italy, his instructions make abundantly clear the importance of Gaul to
Theoderic, who desired to sow sentiments of just and Roman rule among his
newest subjects, just as he did in other provinces. “Decline avarice”, Gemellus
was told, “so that the tired province may accept you as the kind of judge it
knows a Roman princeps might send. Prove that she may rejoice in being con-
quered; let her feel nothing just as nothing was suffered when she asked for
Rome.”83 The Gauls themselves were also informed of Gemellus’ appointment
and enjoined to live like Romans, much like the “barbarized” inhabitants of
Pannonia Sirmiensis. “Roman custom”, Theoderic explained, “must happily be
obeyed by you who have been restored to it after a long time. Recalled to your
ancient liberty, clothe yourselves in the morals of the toga, cast off barbarism,
79 See the opening minutes for the councils of Tarragona and Gerona, ed. Vives, pp. 34
and 39, with Isidore of Seville, Historia Gothorum 39, ed. Mommsen. Cf. Chronica
Caesaraugustana, a. 513, ed. Mommsen. On the Second Council of Toledo, which probably
places the fifth year of the reign of Amalaric in 531 (rather than 527): Schäferdiek, Kirche,
pp. 84–5.
80 See Diaz/Valverde, “Goths”, pp. 364–7; also Arnold, Theoderic, pp. 215–18.
81 Cf. O’Donnell, “Liberius”, pp. 44–6, and Arnold, Theoderic, pp. 270–1 n. 46.
82 See O’Donnell, “Liberius”, pp. 46–8, and Delaplace, “Provence”, pp. 496–9.
83 Variae 3.16.3: “avara declina, ut talem te iudicem provincia fessa suscipiat, qualem
Romanum principem transmisisse cognoscat.... Effice ut victam fuisse delectet. Nihil
tale sentiat, quale patiebatur, cum Romam quaereret.”