Athaulf was a king of the Visigoths who ruled from 410 to 415 AD. The Visigoths were a Germanic people who migrated to the Roman Empire in the 4th century.
Athaulf was the brother-in-law of the previous Visigothic king, Alaric I., who had led the sack of Rome in 410 AD. After Alaric's death later in 410, Athaulf became the new king of the Visigoths.
Athaulf initially sought to maintain friendly relations with the Roman Empire, and in 412 he married Galla Placidia, the sister of the Western Roman Emperor Honorius. This marriage was intended to strengthen the relationship between the Visigoths and the Romans.
However, relations between the Visigoths and the Romans deteriorated when the Romans failed to provide the Visigoths with enough land and supplies. Then, in 415, Athaulf attempted to invade Italy, but he was killed shortly thereafter by a rival Visigothic leader.