Final answer:
Theodoric the Ostrogoth established his capital city in Ravenna. This city played a crucial role as the capital of the Western Roman Empire in the early 5th century and continued to be significant under Theodoric's rule due to its strategic location and rich cultural heritage, evident in its architectural achievements. Option a is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Theodoric the Ostrogoth's Capital City
The student asked where Theodoric the Ostrogoth established his capital city. Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths and ruler of Italy, chose to make Ravenna the capital city of his domain. Initially, Ravenna's significance rose as the city was deemed the capital of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century. With its strategic location in northeastern Italy and its defensive features, such as swamps and fortifications, Ravenna was a fitting choice for Theodoric's capital.
Demonstrating a blend of cultures, Theodoric's building program in Ravenna was ambitious, incorporating both Byzantine and Christian elements. Theodoric's palace, as depicted in mosaics, featured classical architectural elements like Corinthian columns and Roman arches, while also incorporating Christian symbols. These mosaics could be found in the church of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna. Despite being an Arian Christian, Theodoric maintained peaceful relations with the Pope and the Catholic community, upholding a policy of religious tolerance and attempting to unite Romans and Germans culturally.
At the height of his reign, Theodoric relied on Roman aristocracy to govern and worked diligently to repair Roman infrastructures, such as aqueducts and city walls, thus improving the resilience and prosperity of the region. Theodoric's alliances through diplomatic marriages, such as his union with Audofleda, sister of Clovis I, king of the Franks, solidified his power. His legacy, albeit erased by the Byzantines under Emperor Justinian, is still reflected in the surviving architecture, like the mausoleum built for him, and in the indeterminate, multicultural character of the period.