The Barbarian Invasions
up to 476 AD
Pressure on the borders of the Empire from barbarian tribes gradually
increased throughout the fourth century AD. During the reign of
Valentinian I (364-375), successive German raids across the Rhine and
Danube Rivers were met and defeated. Part of Valentinian’s success was
due to his construction of a complex system of new defenses, and his
deliberate stirring up of dissensions between rival tribes. In the meantime,
numerous German barbarians continued to be admitted within the western
frontiers. Valentinian was so successful in his defensive campaigns that by
the time of his sudden death the western Empire appeared to be as strong as
ever.
In 378, however, the eastern Empire was to suffer a shock of unprecedented
gravity. Coming originally from central Asia, the Huns gradually moved
westwards, and around the year 370 burst into the Ukrainian kingdom of
the Goths. The Gothic state crumbled and 200 000 refugees crossed the
Danube into the Balkans. The Roman authorities permitted the Goths to
settle, but incensed at the unjust treatment handed out by their hosts, their
chieftain, Fritigern, broke into revolt and led his people to ravage the
countryside. The eastern Emperor Valens led an army from Asia Minor to
deal with the crisis, and met the Goths at Adrianople in Thrace. The Gothic
cavalry drove off the Roman horsemen, leaving the imperial infantry
exposed and massacred almost to the last man. Valens himself fell, his
corpse disappearing without trace.
Valens’ successor, Theodosius I, in 382 allowed the Goths to settle within
the boundaries of the Empire under their own rulers, on condition that they
supply soldiers and agricultural workers for the Romans – the beginning of
the so-called ‘federate status’ that would be given to various nations that
penetrated into the Empire. It was hoped that the granting of such status
would regulate the entry of barbarian tribes and allow for their eventual
assimilation. But the whole design was overwhelmed by the events of
December 31, 405. On that day a combined army of barbarians from
different tribes – Vandals, Suevi, Alans, Burgundians – crossed the frozen
 |
 |
 |