Alkrikis had no real intention to strip Rome, he only wished to give the haughty Romans a fright. And when the Romans had sent their envoys again to beg for mercy, Alkrikis consented to leave Rome in peace for the ransom of 5000 pounds of gold, 30,000 pounds of silver, 4000 silken robes, 4000 choice purple robes, and 4000 pounds of pepper. Pepper at that time was highly valued, and pepper grains were readily accepted instead of small change. The Romans congratulated themselves that they had to pay so little ransom to the Balthagoths.

The Balthagothic nation was tired of wandering from one place to another, therefore Alkrikis decided to settle with the whole nation in Austria, thus establishing the Balthagothic kingdom. But Emperor Honorius didn't care even to listen to this. Then the enraged Alkrikis again besieged Rome. The Senate was forced to declare that Honorius was deposed, and instead of him they crowned Attalus Emperor of Rome. The majority of Italian cities acknowledged Attalus as their caesar. But as soon as Alkrikis found out that Attalus wasn't friendly to the Balthagoths and that he was scheming to make himself independent of them, he decided to make a fool out of him. In the great assembly near Rimini, Alkrikis made Emperor Attalus to appear before him, and in the presence of Roman and Balthagothic multitudes, he tore away from Attalus the purple robe, took from his head the imperial diadem, and, to everybody's astonishment, proclaimed that henceforth Attalus was no more emperor and that he was degraded to the rank of private citizen. Such an insult never heretofore occurred in Roman history.

Alkrikis now sent the purple robe and the diadem to Honorius at Ravenna citadel, as a token of his wish for peace. At the same time he sent his envoys to Honorius to ask for a territory where the Balthagothic nation could settle and where the Balthagothic kingdom could be established. In the meantime he and his whole army encamped near the city of Ravenna to await for Honorius' answer. But instead of giving a favourable answer, Honorius ordered his general, named Sarus (a Goth), to attack the Balthagoths. Then Alkrikis suddenly retreated from Ravenna, and on the 24th of August, 410, at midnight for the third time he laid siege to Rome, and captured that city. For six days the Balthagoths plundered Roman citizens. However, Alkrikis issued strict orders not to plunder the churches. From the time when Rome fell into the hands of the Gauls, through eight centuries nobody had dared to plunder her, and now for the second time she fell into the hands of the "barbarians". Therefore the Christians throughout the world were thrilled with horror. The popular belief that the end of the world was at hand, spread like wildfire......

Honorius dispatched his heralds to proclaim that Alkrikis was a perpetual enemy of the Roman Empire. It was useless then to think of peace. Now there was only one question: Should the "barbarians" dominate Italy, or should the Romans be the masters of their own country? The Roman provinces in Africa supplied all the food for Italy, therefore Alkrikis designed first of all to occupy those provinces. The Balthagoths marched from Rome to Southern Italy in order to sail to Africa. During the voyage, Alkrikis contracted a fever, and died. He was only 35 years old. The whole Balthagothic nation sorrowed for their young hero, because they understood that there was now no other leader so skillful as he had been to be found amongst them. The Balthagoths, fearing lest the maddened Romans might some day desecrate the body of Alkrikis, compelled the multitude of war prisoners to dig out a canal, into which the course of the river Busento was changed, and in its bed they buried Alkrikis' body, together with a vast treasure, and again turning back the river into its former channel, they filled up the canal. After the burial ceremonies, all those captives who had dug the canal were put to death, so that they couldn't tell where the remains of the Great King rested.

Alkrikis didn't issue any of his coins. There are only some Roman coins with his counterstamp. The native currency of the Balthagoths consisted of shillings.
(5) VADVILKA (v'Atha-vlhva) was brother-in-law of Alkrikis. After Alkrikis passed away, in 410 the Balthagoths chose Vadvilka for their king.
The Gothic word v'Athan means the leader (= vadas in Lithuan.); vilhva means wolf (= vilkas in Lithuan.). Hence the name of this king means "The leader-wolf" (= Vada-vilka in Lithuanian). English authors corrupt his name into "Atawulf", and the Germans corrupt it in a still more peculiar manner.

There is quite a number of inhabitants in Lithuania with names such as: Vad-eika, Vad-ginas, Va(d)-reika, Vilkas, Vilku-taitis etc.

In the beginning, King Vadvilka was at a loss as to where to lead the Balthagothic nation, therefore for two years he marched with his warriors from one place to another. Vadvilka had in his hands, as a war prisoner, Galla Placidia, the beloved sister of Honorius. Realizing that he possessed a beautiful bird, Vadvilka tried to negotiate peace terms with Honorius, promising him to return Placidia. It is supposed that the peace terms were too exorbitant, therefore peace was not concluded.

In the beginning of 412, a certain Jovinus in Gallia proclaimed himself emperor. Honorius asked Vadvilka to go to Gallia to crush Jovinus to whom Honorius was in danger of losing his throne. For this favor Vadvilka was to receive a certain compensation. Vadvilka with all his force marched to Gallia; but there he met Attalus (the degraded Emperor), who tempted Vadvilka to make a friendly arrangement with Jovinus and divide Gallia amongst themselves. Jovinus was too ambitious and too proud to have an understanding with a "barbarian" king. In the meantime, General Sarus (a Goth) revolted against Honorius and marched with his men to help Jovinus. But Vadvilka intercepted Sarus, anihilated his whole army and put Sarus to death. Honorius, understanding the power of Vadvilka, promised him to send much corn and provisions if he would release Placidia and deliver to Ravenna the heads of Jovinus and Sebastian, his brother. Vadvilka sent to Ravenna the requested heads, but waited in vain for the promised supply of corn from Honorius. In the year 413, Vadvilka enraged, forced out from the Southern Gallia multitudes of Roman forces and occupied almost every city, including the most important ones, such as Valencia, Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Narbonne. Narbonne was chosen as his capital. Besides, in January, A.D. 414, Vadvilka married Placidia. Vice-emperor Constantius, who loved Placidia intensely and had hopes of getting her for his wife, became almost insane when he heard that Placidia had married Vadvilka. The Romans felt very much insulted that a Roman maiden of purest imperial blood had married a "barbarian". Placidia, however, loved Vadvilka tenderly, and their marital life was really ideal.

Mad Constantius, at the head of his mighty army, marched towards Narbonne. The Balthagoths, seeing the impending danger, fled away, devastating and plundering everything that was in their way. After crossing the Pyrenean mountains, they entered Spain and captured from the Vandals the beautiful city of Barcellona. In Barcellona Placidia gave birth to a son, whom Vadvilka named Theodosius. The Balthagoths were disheartened because Vadvilka gave his son a Greek, not a Balthagothic name. From that time on, the Balthagoths accused Vadvilka of becoming a slave to his adorable wife, and averred that he didn't spend as much time for the wellbeing of the Gothic nation, as in aping the Roman customs.

In the month of August, in 415, Vadvilka was pierced by a certain friend of Sarus. With his last breath he appealed to his brother to make peace with Rome and sent Placidia to Ravenna.

Vadvilka didn't strike any coins.
(6) ZIGEREIKIS (Sigereiks), A.D. 415. His name is composed of the following words: Sige means invading (= Zigis in Lithuan.); and reiks meaning commander or ruler (= reika, rikis in Lithuanian). There are still some inhabitants in Lithuania with surnames: Zireika, Zigai-tis, Zig-linskas, Zigio-nis, Zyg-guta, Sygutis etc.
The Balthagoths, instead of electing Vadvilka's brother for their king, elected Zigereikis, the brother of Sarus. Zigereikis despised the entire family of Vadvilka. His first act was to put to death six children of Vadvilka's first wife. His conduct towards Placidia was very cruel and humiliating. When he rode, he compelled Placidia to go on foot beside his horse. Only seven days Zigereikis reigned, and then he was murdered.

Coins with Zigereikis' name do not exist.
(7) VALIA (Valya) was elected to the throne in the year 415. His name means "will" (= valia in Lithuanian). There are many inhabitants in Lithuania bearing the names: Valiu-lis, Valio-nis, Vali-naitis, Val-mantas, Valis, Vilei-kis, Vilei-sis etc.
Balthagothic king Valia was a merciful and tactful ruler. He highly esteemed Placidia and sent her away to Ravenna. For this favor Constantius gave to the Balthagoths 600,000 bushels of wheat and allowed Valia to occupy the whole of Spain.

In 418, for unknown reasons, Constantius proposed to Valia to settle with the whole Balthagothic nation in Aquitania. Valia was overjoyed, because that district was enormously rich, and it was known as "the Pearl of Gaul", "the Land of Corn, Wine and Oil". The very same year, he settled there and Toulouse became the capital seat of the kings of the Balthagoths. Valia wasn't destined to enjoy the "Earthly Paradise" very long, because in the year 419 he died.

Coins with the name of Valia do not exist.
(8) TAUTARIKIS I (Thiudareiks) became the king of the Balthagoths in the year 419. His name is composed of the following words. The Gothic word Thiuda or Theuda means a nation (= Tauta in Lithuan.); and the word reiks means ruler (= reika, rikis in Lithuanian).
There are very many peasants in Lithuania with names such as: Tautis, Tautila, Taut-kus, Taut-gaila, Taut-girdas, Taut-vila, But-tautas, By-tautas, Got-tautas, Man-tautas, Nu-tautas, Vit-tautas etc., etc. And of the Lithuanian names ending in "reika", "rikis" there is a vast number, which fact was already mentioned in the discussion on the Ostrogothic names.

Readers should not confound this Balthagothic (Visigothic) king Tautarikis with another Tautarikis, who ruled over the Ostrogoths (A.D. 476-526).

Tautarikis, the Balthagoth, was really a capable ruler, since he succeeded in ruling over a period of 32 years. Most of the time he had to wage wars against the Burgunds and the Germans, who at that time were known as "Franks".

A.D. 437, the Balthagoths attempted to capture Narbonne, an important and rich city, which at that time was under Roman occupation. But there the Balthagoths were defeated. Besides this, a Roman general marched into Tautarikis' territory and laid siege to the capital, Toulouse. Everybody thought then that there would be the end to the Balthagothic nation, but the Balthagoths fought so desperately against the Romans, that the whole Roman army was annihilated and its general, Littorius, was taken a war prisoner. Rejoicing over their victory, the Balthagoths put Littorius in chains and dragged him through the streets of Toulouse in their triumphal procession.

About the year 450, the Balthagoths, the Germans, and the Romans were drawn more closely together on account of a common danger that impended, because the formidable Hunnish king, Attila, marauded throughout Europe and threatened every kingdom. Rome was in a panic, rulers of all other states were trembling. Suddenly general Aetius arrived from Italy and in the name of Rome appealed to Tautarikis for help. Time was wasted by planning, while the Huns were already desolating the territories of Lorraine and Chalon. The Romans, the Balthagoths, and the Franks, with united forces attacked the immense horde of Attila's men near the village of Moirey, not far from Troyes city. This was in 451. The bloodshed was terrible. The Romans were thrown into confusion, but the Balthagoths fought bravely. At that time Tautarikis was killed. It is said that a certain Ostrogoth (Attila's servant), named Andagys, darted him. In place of the fallen Tautarikis, his son Dorismantas took command of the army. The Balthagoths fought so bitterly, so courageously, that 160,000 of the Huns were killed. Attila was compelled to hide. Here the power of the horrible Huns was crushed, and the credit was due to the Balthagothic nation.

There was no time to give a decent burial to Tautarikis, therefore he was buried right where he fell. Coins bearing the legend of Tautarikis are not known.
(9) DORISMANTAS (Thorismunths) distinguished himself by his bravery in the battlefield against the Huns, therefore the Balthagothic nation chose him to be their king as soon as Tautarikis was buried.
The name Dorismantas is composed of two words, namely: Thoris (= Doris in Lithuanian), meaning noble or courageous, and munths (=mantus in Lithuanian) meaning frugal. There are quite a number of inhabitants in Lithuania, in whose names we find the words "doris" and "mantas". One Lithuanian fellow by the name of S. Dorsmontas lives in Chicago, (733 W. 17th place); I know another Lithuanian whose name is Ben-doris.

Defeated Attila now thought that he was ruined forever. He constructed pyres and was ready with all his Huns to perish by fire, so that he might not fall into the hands of the Balthagoths. Dorismantas was eager to annihilate the rest of the Huns, but the crafty Roman general Aetius, fearing lest the Balthagoths should be puffed up by their victory and so become dangerous to Rome, advised Dorismantas to rush home to prevent his brothers from seizing the kingly throne. Dorismantas heeded this and immediately returned to Toulouse.