He was a son of Eutharic and Amalasuintha, the youngest daughter of Theoderic the Great,[2] whom Athalaric succeeded as king in 526.

This power was to make decisions about the kingdom's politics and negotiate with foreign rulers like Justinian I, at least within the 530s.

According to Procopius, the Goth aristocracy desired Athalaric to be raised in Gothic, but Amalasuintha wanted him to resemble the Roman rulers.

[6] Amalasuintha adhered to Roman learning and customs that were especially objectionable to other Goths, as they saw it as cowardly and submissive.

[7] Eventually, Amalasuintha was forced to accept the will of her fellow Goths by allowing Athalaric to spend time with other boys around his age.