The Emergence of Europe (286-843) Part III: The Sack of Rome

A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode Three explains that Stilicho was regent for Honorius but schemed to gain control of the eastern Roman empire, rather than deal with an usurper in Gaul and a coalition of Vandals, Alans and Sueves, so he was executed. The confusion enabled Alaric to lead his Goths into Italy, and sack Rome when Honorius failed to give the Goths their own lands.

 

Cast of Characters:

Honorius-emperor of the Western Roman Empire (395-423), younger son of Theodosius I

Arcadius-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (395-408), older son of Theodosius I

Stilicho-generalissimo in the Western Roman empire (392-408), husband to Serena, favorite niece of Theodosius I

Alaric-king of the Visigoths (395-410)

Radagaisus-king of Goths who invaded Italy in 405

Constantine III-emperor of the Western Roman Empire (407-411), former soldier in the Roman army

Attalus-usuper/emperor of the Western Roman Empire (409-410), former prefect of Rome

 

Sources:

Christendom: The Triumph of a Religion-Peter Heather

Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West 376-568-Guy Halsall

The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians-Peter Heather

Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages-Dan Jones

The Franks-Edward James

Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire that Rescued Western Civilization-Lars Brownsworth

Byzantium: The Early Centuries-John Julius Norwich

Empires of Faith: The Fall of Rome to the Rise of Islam, 500-700-Peter Sarris

Visigothic Spain 409-711-Roger Collins

History of the Goths-Herwig Wolfram, translated by Thomas J. Dunlap

 

Image Credit

By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625