1. Class 6 Fall of Western Roman Empire
Dr. Ann T. Orlando
20 September 2018

2. Introduction Fourth Century after Constantine Pope Damasus
Fifth Century Invasions
Fall of Empire in West
City of Rome

3. Key Historical Events in 4th Century after Constantine
Constantine’s Empire gets divided among his sons; but this only leads to civil war and a weakened Empire
After Constantine, all Emperors except Julian the Apostate ( ) were Christians
Some of Constantine's successors in 4th C were Arians; sent missionaries to Goths north of Danube (Arian missionary and bishop Wulfila)
Constantinople becomes the most powerful city in the Empire

4. The Waning Political Importance of the City of Rome
No Emperor from Diocletian makes Rome his real political capital
Milan becomes Western political and military capital in 4th C
Constantinople becomes most important imperial center from 4th C

5. Roman-Barbarian Relationships
Because it is over-extended, Roman military tries to enlist barbarian tribes into defense of frontier along Danube, Rhine, and in England
Barbarians get trade
Romans get security
Two problems with arrangement
Barbarians come ‘peacefully’ into Roman territory during times of famine or when pushed by other tribes (e.g. Huns)
Romans increasingly think of tribes as auxiliary troops and try to move them around Empire, especially to fight Persians in 4th C

6. Social Differences in Military Structures
Roman Military Structure
Very hierarchical
Soldiers not allowed to marry until they retire
Infantry
Germanic Tribes Structure
Very diffuse; gorilla type warfare
Families expected to travel with the ‘army’
Cavalry

7. Classic Battle: Adrianople
Between Roman troops under Emperor Valens and Goths
9 August 378
Roman army is completely destroyed
Valens disappears in the carnage
Most of the 40,000 Roman troops are lost
Often thought to signal ‘beginning of end’ of Roman Empire
Last Western Emperor 479
Last Eastern Roman Emperor 1453
Still studied today by military historians
Artifacts from battle are still being discovered

8. Adrianople and Church History
Emperor Valens
To resolve infighting among Constantine's successors, empire divided East and West, along Diocletian’s lines
Valens Augustus in East is an Arian
Patriarchate of Constantinople staunchly Arian during his reign
After battle Orthodox will claim battle was God’s wrath on Valens and Arians
Turning point in balance of political power between Arians and Orthodox
Theodosius becomes orthodox emperor

9. Split Empire after Theodosius
When Theodosius dies in 395, empire split between his sons
Arcadius in the East (r )
Honorius in West (r )
Both face severe pressures from Germanic tribes along their borders

10. Eastern Roman Empire: Arcadius
Weak ruler, dominated by his ministers and his wife, Eudoxia
Strong military leaders manage to protect Eastern Empire from invaders
Which only pushes the Germanic tribes further West to weaker Western Empire
Wife consumed by desire for wealth and power, opposed by St. John Chrysostom

11. St. John Chrysostom (349 – 407) Born and educated in Antioch
Acquired sobriquet “Golden Mouth” for his preaching in Antioch
Became Patriarch of Constantinople in 397
Almost immediately ran afoul of both Imperial and Church politics
Political and doctrinal disputes between Alexandria and Antioch
Imperial politics, especially in terms of concern for the poor
Because of political problems, John was exiled (twice)

12. Western Roman Emperor Honorius
To combat continued waves of German barbarians, Honorius
Moves Capital to Ravenna
Relies on a German general confederate, Stilicho
Stilicho ‘protects’ Western Empire (by now Italy and North Africa)
But is accused of treason by Honorius in 408 and executed
As a result, no strong military leader to defend city of Rome leading to sack in 410

13. 5th Century Invasions

14. Fall of Rome
Fall of Rome in 410 to Alaric had a huge psychological impact
The Goths sacking Rome were Arian Christians
“My voice sticks in my throat, and as I dictate, sobs choke my utterance. The City which had taken the whole world, was itself taken.” St. Jerome
Augustine writes The City of God
Dies as the Vandals besiege Hippo

15. Ravenna
New capital of the Western Empire during reign of Honorius in 402: Ravenna
Along Adriatic and with a good port, much easier to escape to Constantinople from Ravenna than Rome
For most of the 5th through 8th C, Ravenna will be most important political and military capital in West
Ravenna will be politically closer to Constantinople than Rome for most of Middle Ages

16. The Huns
Led by Attila (d. 453), known in the West as ‘The Scourge of God’
Nomads from east of the Caspian sea
Began campaign against the Eastern Roman Empire across the Danube
Settled when Theodosius II agreed to pay tribute (c. 443)
Attila then attacked the weaker West, beginning in Gaul and moving through Italy
Attila suffered defeat by the Visigoths, retreated East to present-day Hungary

17. Pope St. Leo the Great
Born in Tuscany; deacon under Pope Celestine
Pope
Fought against Pelagians and Manicheans
Deeply influenced by Augustine
Concerned for Church discipline,
Proper forms for Latin liturgies
Papal control over appointment of bishops; conflict with St. Hilary of Arles
Managed to convince barbarians not to sack Rome
Attila the Hun
Genseric the Vandal
Most famous for Christological formula, “One person, two natures”

18. St. Peter Chrysologus (380-450)
Archbishop of Ravenna
Ravenna was the de facto Byzantine capital of the Western Empire
Strong supporter of Leo the Great against monophysites
Died just before Council of Chalcedon
Peter first referred to as ‘Chrysologus’ (golden word) in 8th C when a collection of his sermons was compiled
Saint and doctor of the Church

19. Fall of Western Roman Empire
With continued pressure from north, last Roman emperor in West, Romulus, abdicates
He lives the rest of his life in Constantinople
Odoacer becomes first German ruler in Italy (r )
He is overthrown by Ostrogoth, Theodoric (r )
Theodoric imprisons Pope St. John I because he would not recognize validity of Arian Christianity
Imprisons and executes Boethius for treason, Consolation of Philosophy

20. Arian Ravenna
Theodoric captured Ravenna in 493 and made it his capital
Built S. Apollinare which includes mosaics showing Theodoric
Theodoric’s mausoleum in Ravenna and still stands

21. The City of Rome
Abandoned politically and militarily, by 5th C Rome’s only source of stability is Papacy
Pope adopts title of pontiff in late 4th C (maybe Damasus?)
Pontifex Maximus seems to be a Renaissance title for Papacy
Pontifex Maximus is not recognized by the Annuario Pontificio
Population in City of Rome
2nd C +/- 1 million
In 6th C +/- 50,000
Except to extent that Pope becomes a political (and military) leader of Papal States, Rome will not be a capital city again until end of 19th C

22. 4th C Christian Gaul St. and Dr. Hilary of Poitiers (310-367)
Pagan parents; Hilary, wife and daughter converted to Orthodox Christianity
Became bishop of Poitiers c 350
But surrounded by Arians; his most important work was On the Trinity
St. Martin of Tours ( )
Was a Roman soldier and became a Catholic catechumen
Story of dividing his cloak with a beggar
Converted by Hilary, and became his disciple
Became bishop of Tours in 371
Famous for founding important monasteries in France

23. On Important 5th C Difference: the Franks
Franks were one of Germanic tribes
Key difference was that their 5th C leader, Clovis is baptized a Catholic (NOT Arian) Christian in 496
And the rest is history….