# Theodoric — The Secret History character guide

> Theodoric in The Secret History by Procopius.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0002-the-secret-history

## Who they are

King of the Ostrogoths, predecessor to Theodatus.

## In the story

### [XXIV: Unjust Treatment of the Soldiers, and How Justinian Tricked the “Students” Out of Their Pay by Threatening to Send Them to War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxiv-unjust-treatment-of-the-soldiers-and-how-justinian-tricked-the-students-out-of-their-pay-by-threatening-to-send-them-to-war)

Mentioned in connection with the Italians' negotiations that Alexander uses as pretext to extort money.

### [XXVI: How He Spoiled the Beauty of the Cities and Plundered the Poor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxvi-how-he-spoiled-the-beauty-of-the-cities-and-plundered-the-poor)

Mentioned as the ruler who permitted the Roman palace guard to remain and distributed grain to the poor near St. Peter's, a practice later ended by Alexander.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/theodoric
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters