TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > History > Introduction to Rome and the Barbarians
Strategic situation 375 changed little from that of 350; usurpers defeated and barbarians kept at bay, dominant over Rhine and Danube, Romans could defeat even combinations of barbarians. –future looked secure.
Huns disrupt this in 370 – Goths submit to Huns or plea for refuge with Romans in Danube, hostilities with Goths, Illyrian field army fights the Goths – still Valens watches Persians in East
Valens killed by Goths at Adrianople 378
395 – Goths under Alaric, settled in Thrace, begin plundering Thessaly – Stilicho failed to pacify them, failed to beat them again in 397
THE EMPIRE IN 400 – superficially the same as 375 – political divergence between the two parts – less cooperation especially in the Balkans + territorial integrity damaged by settlement Goths in Balakns under their own rules – Stilicho inability to beat them
Problems not necessarily fatal; relations could have been improved, Alaric defeated but they weren’t, strength empire immense, its ability to deploy all its resources against a single enemy now compromised.
401 402 Alaric fighting in Italy with Stilicho, more Goths Radagaisus – got to Florence and then destroyed.
408 Stilico overthrown in August 48, Alaric marches on Rome in 408 after negotiations break own, withdrew to Tuscany after receiving payment from Rome.
East under little foreign pressure after removal of the Goths.
Alaric 409 besieges Rome and acclaims Attalus as emperor, Attalus fails and deposed but Alaric sacks Rome again, dies at Ataluf becomes King.
Usurption of Heraclianus in Africa and ensuing diruption meant Romans could not provide grain that they had promised the Goths, Ataluf attacks Southern France – Goths blockade at agree to help depose of the Vandals and Alans. – into Spain but then moved to Aquitanis , Goths now Visgoths and had to provide Romans with troop, all of Spain now under Roman control
Military problems East and West differed beginning and end of Honorius’ reign
No independent settlements West, by 425 independent kingdoms of Vandals, Suevi, Visigoths and Burgundians, Britain lost, remainder fifth century spend a lot of time defeating internal as well as external enemies. – imperial resources frequently divided, east lost no territory to the Barbarians, continuing operational success in East and West suggests sufficient resources available to safeguard Empire – IF focuses on the task of preserving the government.
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