The Goths are a major playable nomad faction in Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion.
Description[]
The Goths were an ancient Germanic people from the Baltic coast region who migrated towards Dacia in the 3rd century AD, but before that they were reputed to have crossed the Baltic from their original homeland. They settled around the Vistula river and at some point the tribes divided into the Ostrogoths and Visigoths, or Western Goths. The Western Goths were the first barbarians to carry our a major incursion into Roman territory, and, while the other barbarians were even more brutal in their warmaking, the Goths struck fear into their enemies. Their practice of sacrificing captives to their war god, Tyz, was particularly horrifying.
This practice has been abandoned now that the Goths have adopted the Arian version of Christianity. They are, however, still dangerous warriors and well able to exploit any weakness in Roman lands or among their more barbarous neighbours.
Historically the Goths were driven across the Danube and into Roman territory by pressure from the steppes. While the Goths tried to behave peaceably the Romans treated them abominably. At the battle of Adrianople in 378 the Goths destroyed an Imperial army and killed the Emperor Valens.
Trivia[]
- The Ostrogoths are a minor faction that can appear if a revolt gets the control of one of the Goth's settlements.
- Because of this, they share the same unit roster.