Who were the visigoths and why are they so important?

The Visigoths were a branch of the Gothic tribes, initially part of the larger group of Germanic peoples, who played a significant role in the decline of the Roman Empire. They are particularly important for their establishment of a kingdom in what is now Spain and southwestern France, particularly after their sack of Rome in 410 AD. The Visigothic Kingdom became a model for later medieval states in Europe, and their legal codes influenced the development of European law. Their legacy includes the preservation of Roman culture and the integration of various ethnic groups during the early Middle Ages.