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TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > History > Dynasty of Theodosius I and Barbarians in the West

• Arcadius, Theodosius 2 in East, Honrius and Val 3 ineffectual rulers for the first 50 years too heavily reliant on Germanic ministers abused powers. Empire secondary to personal ambition.
• Stilicho a Vandal looked after H and A managed to

  get into family. Although led many

  great victories but kills Rufinus rival in East, disputes over Illyricum

  is this eastern or western land.
• Gainas Ostrogth too powerful and had to be destroyed by Goth an Hun combo.
• 400 Germanic anger to East temporarily removed.
• VISGOTHS flee Huns in 375, rebelled in 378 kill

  Emperor Valens at Hadrianople.

  Then T the G settles them in Lower Moesia. Under power of ALARIC. Stilicho faces VG at Thessaly, but

  Rufinus calls off the troops example of poor co-operation.
• VGs then have Greece to plunder, Stilicho’s expedition

  to Greece in 397 called off by Arcadius fear of acknowledging

  Illyricum. Settled in Epirus and

  try to invade Italy whilst W. Armies distracted by Vandals in the Danube.
• 401 Radagaius and Vandals face Stilicho Rome

  threatened that court moved to Ravenna.

  Aleric told to go and protect Illyrian lands.
• Upper Danubian provinces heavily infiltrated by

  tribes in late 405 Ostrogoths an Radagaius invade Italy, but only

  massacred with help of Huns. Uses

  up troops so Burgundians, Vandals, Sueve, Franks let in, Stilicho instead of protecting Gaul

  Stilicho too busy sorting out Illyricum.
• Same time Britain lost a usurper
• 407 Constantine leaves Britain and proclaims rule

  over Gaul. Stilicho personally

  responsible for ill will between east and west whilst doing this

  breaches of imperial defences.
• Alaric demands money and sieges Rome in 408 leads

  to cannibalism. 410 Aleric sacks

  Rome despite chance of negotiated peace.

  Huge shock recriminations between East and West.
• Meanwhile Gaul at the mercy of the German

  tribesmen. Burgundians settle in

  Burgundy, Franks into Belgium.

  Chaos as Constantine recognised Emperor in 410 no less than 6

  Empeeors, Honrous, Theodisus 2, Maximums
• Many people into Spain; Aslings, Silings, Siueves, Alans.
• 418 Roman rule to Gaul restored, and maybe even to Britain.
• Theoderic head of Gauls, grandson of Aleric chief ally of Romans until Attila in 452.
• 423 Honorius dies Joannes the Usurper backed by Aetius and huns but in 425 Valenetian made Emp.
• Boniface’s rivalry with Aetius very strong. Aetius capable military general for 26 Years protects south Gaul from Visgoths and north from Franks.
• Gaiseric and Vandals take Africa for good in 435.
• Aetius beats Boniface, Burgundians beaten by Huns

  in 435. Goths to a

  standstill. 438 39 NW Gaul

  repressed, 452 beats Attila.
• Aetius killed by Valentinian and Maximus not good for the Western empire.
• Since 408 Aleric only Huns affect East no

  German tribe makes an impact.

  Foreign Generals did come to power; Areobindus and Ardaburius son

  Aspar plays important role.
• Death Theo 2 and Val 3 empire on the edge of

  destruction, both. But East same

  land on no foreign bodies, unlike West. Yes, Italy ravished by civil wat,

  but no foreign settlers.

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