Sigerico

Sigeric (? – 415) was a Visigothic king who ruled for seven days in the year 415. His name means Victorious King or King of the Victoria (Gothic sigis-victory and reiks-king).

Biography

After the assassination of Ataúlfo, by an assassin in the service of General Sarus, who had previously been ordered to be assassinated by Ataúlfo and was Sigerico's brother, a struggle for control of the throne broke out between Sigerico and Walia, Ataúlfo's brother, initially winning Sigerico.

In his few days in government, he gave unequivocal evidence of his intentions: he ordered the killing of six of Ataúlfo's children, to avoid future descendants, and he harassed Galla Placidia, Ataúlfo's widow and sister of Emperor Honorius, forcing her to walk along with other prisoners in front of his horse up to a distance of twelve miles from the city of Barcelona. This situation generated great discomfort among Walia's supporters, who assassinated him on the seventh day of his reign.