The Germanic tribe that conquered Rome in 410 AD.

In world history, the period between the IV and VII centuries entered as an era in which dozens of peoples, having left their former territories, went to meet their unknown destiny. Among the researchers, it is hardly possible to find a common point of view on the reasons that served as the impetus for this large-scale phenomenon. The Germanic tribe that seized Rome in 410 was part of this process, which completely changed the map of Europe.

Invasion of the Huns

Even two centuries before the outbreak of the disaster, the tribes of the Germans periodically appeared on the borders of the Great Empire. After another raid, the barbarians retreated under the onslaught of the Romans, leaving after themselves looted and burnt villages and taking hundreds of civilians to slavery. But the smoke of the conflagrations dissipated, and for a while life came back. Those who were lucky enough to survive the tragedy, restored the dwellings, and after a while everything was repeated again.

It lasted almost two centuries, until Europe was hit by a real disaster - the invasion of the Huns. The innumerable hordes of these nomads, emerging from the Asian steppes, set out on a campaign from the borders of China to Europe. Moving with speed, unheard of at that time, they quickly defeated the German tribes of the Goths, occupying the territory of the northern Black Sea coast. Some of these tribes (eastern) submitted to the invaders, and the other (western) retreated to the lands controlled by the Roman Empire, in the hope of protecting their army.

Under the yoke of Roman officials

In part, their hopes were justified, and for the Huns they became inaccessible. However, having avoided one misfortune, they fell into another. The fact is that this period in the history of the Roman state is rightfully considered its disintegration, caused by the moral disintegration of the ruling elite and the whole bureaucratic apparatus. Incredible in its scale, corruption eroded all spheres of the country's life.

The Goths, although they received land for their living, but very small and unfit for farming or for breeding cattle. As a result, famine began. In addition, they suffered from the arbitrariness of local officials who imposed excessive taxes on them and unceremoniously interfered in all areas of their lives. As a result, it was precisely these factors that gave impetus to the processes that turned peaceful settlers into a Germanic tribe that conquered Rome.

The Rebellion of the Germans

Events developed rapidly and unexpectedly for the Romans. Just yesterday, a submissive, but now brought to despair, people raised an uprising. Germans all as one took up arms and moved to the eastern capital of the empire - Constantinople, where in 378 met on the battlefield the Germans and the regular Roman army, headed personally by the Emperor Valent.

The Goths in this battle defeated and completely destroyed the best army of the world at that time. They had nowhere to retreat, and they demonstrated the wonders of heroism. Among the murdered Romans was also their emperor. Remained a little more than three decades before the day when the Germanic tribe that seized Rome in 410, will celebrate its bloody victory.

The defenselessness of the once formidable capital

This defeat was ruinous for the empire. Disliked army, she was forced from then on to constantly resort to the services of mercenaries, who for the most part consisted of the same Germans. These were warriors skilled, well-trained, but extremely unreliable and ready to sell to anyone in case of benefits. The situation was aggravated by the fact that a social explosion was brewing among the civilian population, caused by the lawlessness of corrupt authorities.

The Germanic tribes who conquered Rome in 410гн. E., of course, had in the face of their opponents the remains of the once powerful, but at that time finally decayed state. To top it off, the Romans lost their talented and experienced commander Stilichon - he fell victim to court intrigues. Henceforth, the capital, devoid of a reliable army, and a skilful commander, was practically defenseless.

Siege of the Eternal City

This did not fail to take advantage of the Germans. Led by their leader Alaric, they took Rome to the siege ring. Not having at that time the opportunity to storm the well-fortified city walls, the barbarians doomed the inhabitants to starvation. But this time fate was favorable to the besieged, and the Germanic tribe that seized Rome in 410 agreed to withdraw, having received a huge ransom.

However, only two years have passed, and the insatiable Alaric again appeared under the walls of the Eternal City with his hordes. Encouraged by the recent success of the barbarians, they were self-confident and insolent. These were the same Germanic tribes who captured Rome in 410. This time they were not satisfied with any, even the most generous ransom. They did not want to be content with a part - they needed to get everything. The capital of the empire, which once seized the world, was doomed.

The military cunning of Alaric

Here it is necessary to make some digression and wonder how the Germanic tribes who conquered Rome in 410 managed to overcome the walls of the city, which two years earlier were inaccessible to them? On this occasion, there are two versions, outlined in surviving records of contemporaries of these events. According to one of them, the leader of the Germans, realizing that the walls are impregnable, undertook military cunning.

He very convincingly staged preparations for the retreat and sent his emissaries to the emperor, who stated that Alaric, seeing the courage and patriotism of the Romans, did not intend to continue the siege, but left the city, leaving to his citizens three hundred of his best slaves. Delighted with such an unexpected deliverance, the besieged took a generous present. At night, these "slaves", after interrupting protection, opened the gates to the Germans.

A widow who opened the way to the enemy

Another version sets out the story in a different way. A certain eyewitness writes that in those days when the Goths re-laid siege to the city, a rich widow lived in it, who sympathized with the citizens with all her heart and was looking for an opportunity to somehow ease their suffering. Seeing that there was no hope of salvation, and the first cases of cannibalism caused by hunger, she ordered her slaves to open the gates to the Germans at night, even if they had to kill the guards.

What really happened in those far times can hardly be established now. Were the Romans so trusting that they let in the "fifth column", or the venerable matron rendered a disservice to their compatriots - now it is hardly possible to establish with complete certainty. Yes it does not matter. The main thing is that the Insidious Alaric reached his goal, and bloodthirsty hordes burst into the city.

The fall of the Roman capital

Up to now, many historical chronicles left by witnesses of those events have come down. They describe how the Germanic tribe who conquered Rome in 410, for three days indulged in looting and outrage. From the pages of these documents, streams of blood flow like dying cries of dying people. They talk about how slavery became the lot of thousands of civilians, and those who fled the city, fleeing from enemies, found death in the open air from hunger and disease.

Alaric, like a monstrous leech, sucked the last drops of blood from the capital, left the dying city and moved to the north the Germanic tribe that seized Rome in the middle of 410.

The year was destined to become a turning point in the history of the whole of Europe. Her map quickly changed. Collapsed colossus seemed colossal, burying under its wreckage the whole ancient world.