THEODORIC was the Ostrogothic king of Italy, reigned A.D. 493-526, and was an adherent to the Arian doctrines of Christianity. He was an able administrator and a tolerant ruler, and he took an interest in the arts although he could not write. Flavius Cassiodorus, quaestor and consul in Theodoric's government, acted as his secretary and wrote letters in the king's name. Theodoric gave Boethius great favors, but when he was accused of treason, the king believed the accusations and threw Boethius into prison. The Senate then passed sentence without trial, and Boethius was cruelly tortured and clubbed to death.

Boethius does not mention the king by name in his De consolatione philosophiae. Chaucer translates a gloss added by Jean de Meun to his French translation, explaining that Boethius had countermanded one of Theodoric's ordinances on the sale of corn during a difficult year, Bo I, Prosa 4.72-84. Theodoric's name appears in another gloss, which explains that Boethius had refused to serve as a colleague with Decoratus, even if his refusal displeased Theodoric, Bo III, Prosa 4.23-26. This gloss does not appear in Jean de Meun's translation. [Boece: Cassidore: Decorat]