The Emergence of Europe (286-843) Part II: The Barbarians are at the Gates

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 Two explains that the Goths had been allowed to enter the eastern empire but food supply problems led to a battle at Adrianople where emperor Valens was killed. His successor, Theodosius, made peace, and the Goths helped him gain control of the western empire. When he died, the empire was divided again with each of his two sons receiving one half. However, Goths led by Alaric revolted in the west.

 

Cast of Characters:

Valens-emperor of the Eastern Empire (364-378), younger brother of emperor Valentinian I

Gratian-co-emperor of the Western Empire (375-383), eldest son of emperor Valentinian I

Valentinian II-co-emperor of the Western Empire (375-392), younger son of emperor Valentinian I

Theodosius I-emperor of the Roman Empire (394-395), emperor of the Eastern Empire (379-395)

Maximus-emperor of the Western Roman Empire (383-388)

Eugenius-emperor of the Western Roman Empire (392-394)

Arbogast-master of the military in the Western Roman Empire (385/6-394)

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

Alaric-king of the Visigoths (395-410)

 

Sources:

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

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

Christendom: The Triumph of a Religion-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