By 400 CE, the traditional cremation burials characteristic of Suebi tribes such as the Quadi had disappeared in Bohemia, signaling shifts in cultural and migratory patterns.

In December 409 CE, Hermeric, leader of a Suebi coalition, crossed the frozen Rhine alongside the Vandals and Alans, beginning their migration into Roman Hispania. After crossing the Pyrenees, his group—consisting of Quadi, Marcomanni, and Buri—establishes itself in the Roman province of Gallaecia (modern Galicia and northern Portugal).

The Question of Roman Recognition

The nature of the Suebi’s presence in Iberia remains debated. While Theodor Mommsen argued that they were foederati, and Ernst Stein suggested they had an agreement with the Roman usurper Magnus Maximus, granting them western Iberia, there is no primary evidence of any formal alliance between the Suebi and Rome.

In 411 CE (according to Ludwig Schmidt) or 417 CE (according to Felix Dahn), Hermeric supposedly made a treatywith Emperor Honorius. However, the only recorded event of 411 is the division of Iberia "sorte" (by lot) among the barbarian groups.

As a result of this division:

• The eastern part of Gallaecia, with its capital Bracara Augusta (modern Braga), falls under Suebi control.
• The western portion of the province is allocated to the Hasdingi Vandals, a larger and more populous group.

The Rise of the Suebi Kingdom in Hispania

Following the departure of the Vandals for North Africa in 429 CE, the Suebi establish a powerful kingdom in Hispania, nominally federated to Rome but, in reality, operating as an independent state. Centered in Gallaecia (modern-day northwestern Spain and northern Portugal), this Suebi kingdom becomes the first post-Roman barbarian realm to emerge in the former Western Roman Empire.

Despite its official foederati status, the Suebi increasingly govern without imperial oversight, issuing their own laws, striking coinage, and expanding their influence across Lusitania and Baetica. Their independence is further solidified through their alliance with the Visigoths, led by Theodoric I, who had been settled in the Garonne region of Gaul as federates of Rome since 418.

This Suebi-Visigothic alliance strengthens both kingdoms at the expense of the Western Roman Empire, which remains too weak to assert control over its former provinces. Over the next century, tensions between the Suebi and Visigoths will fluctuate between cooperation and conflict, culminating in the Visigothic conquest of the Suebi kingdom in 585 CE, but for now, the Suebi remain a dominant force in Hispania, marking one of the earliest permanent post-Roman successor states in Western Europe.

The Civil War and Consolidation of the Suebi Kingdom

Throughout the mid-fifth century, the Suebi in Galicia endure a period of civil war and internal fragmentation, as their kingdom operates under a diarchy, with rival factions vying for control. The situation is further complicated by ongoing conflicts with the native Gallo-Roman population, leading to widespread unrest.

The End of Civil War: The Rise of Remismund (464 CE)

In the south, after the death of King Maldras, his faction continues under Frumar, but his rule is short-lived. By 464 CE, Frumar’s death brings an end to this prolonged period of internal strife, paving the way for a unified Suebi ruleunder Remismund, a figure with both diplomatic and military experience.

Remismund’s Diplomatic and Military Acumen

• An Experienced Diplomat – Before becoming king, Remismund had served as an ambassador, traveling between Galicia and Gaul, likely engaging in negotiations with the Visigoths and maintaining ties with various factions.
• Unifying the Suebi – As king, he successfully unites the divided Suebi factions, restoring internal stability and consolidating his authority.
• Relations with the Visigoths – His rule gains recognition—perhaps even approval—from Theodoric II, king of the Visigoths, who sends him gifts and weapons, further legitimizing his reign. Additionally, Theodoric strengthens ties by arranging for Remismund to marry a Gothic princess, reinforcing a Visigothic-Suebi alliance.

The Restoration of Order in Galicia

With his rule secured, Remismund restores peace to the Suebi kingdom, ensuring its continued survival in the post-Roman world. Under his leadership, the Suebi maintain their autonomy in Galicia, though they remain under the shadow of the powerful Visigothic Kingdom, which will later dominate much of the Iberian Peninsula.