There are no Roman emperors after Theodosius who are named in the textbooks, but the names of the Germanic chiefs of this period are quite numerous.
It is natural to say that it is natural because the people who emerged at this time will make France, Spain, and Germany later, but this time the leading role Alaric is also one of those people, the first King of the Visigoths ( Rex), the Visigoths later ruled Spain and formed the basis of what is now Spain.
Stilicho and three-legged race
The Visigoths, led by Alaric, were to be incorporated into the Roman army. At that time, the mercenaries and members of the Roman Imperial Army were Germanic people, as if allies were Germanic and their enemies were Germanic.
Alaric was initially fighting under the control of the Roman side, and was fighting around the world with the permission of Stilicho, who became the de facto ruler of Rome.
* Stilicho itself is also a Germanic who draws the blood of the Vandals.
At this time, it was still the time of Emperor Theodosius, and Alaric could not receive hospitality like Stilicho who married the emperor's niece, so he may have been dissatisfied, with Emperor Honorius who died only 10 years old. When 18-year-old Emperor Arcadius takes the throne, Alaric begins to plunder in the land of Greece.
Predator Alaric
The Byzantine Empire has appointed a commander of the army, whether or not he would fight this Alaric. It can be said that it is an episode that well represents the decline of Rome during this period.
Anyway, I think.
I wonder if the Greek cities that once bounced off the great power Persia and became the hegemons of the world would be overrun without any means to do it. The areas devastated by Alaric include Sparta and Athens, which were famous in ancient times, and we cannot help feeling the decline of civilization.
Alaric, who devastated Greece, headed for Italy and began looting him.
Unlike the opportunistic Byzantine Empire, Stilicho, who became the de facto ruler of the Western Roman Empire, responded strongly to this.
In the Battle of Pollentia, Alaric loses to Stilicho.
Alaric, who is still unsuccessful, takes a chance of Stilicho and devastates the territory of Western Rome, but he is defeated by Stilicho again in the Battle of Verona in 402.
The execution of Stilicho in 408 was an opportunity for Alaric.
Alaric, who has lost his enemies, vandalizes northern Italy and finally occupies the capital, Rome.
However, this act is also seen as retaliation for the slaughter of the Germanic people by the Roman emperor Honorius and his vassal Olympius, and Alaric has not slaughtered the money.
He didn't, but he destroyed the city, robbed him of money, and burned it.
During this time, the Roman emperor was on the sidelines without doing anything. He no longer had an army or commander to lead in the Roman Empire.
At this time, Galla Platina, the sister of the Roman emperor, was taken away and became the princess of Athaulf, the successor to Alaric.
Alaric, who looted hard, died of illness when he was satisfied and was about to return to the north.
He is said to have been around 40 years old.