Barbarian Invasions (Rome Never Splits)

In late 401, Alaric, king of the Visigoths (Western Goths) invaded Italy. This was the first major barbarian invasion of Rome. Legions were summoned from all over the empire and the invasion was defeated, but more were to follow. Four years later, Radagaisus led his tribe of Goths across the Danube and invaded Italy. That winter, a huge army of migrating Vandals, Ostrogoths (Eastern Goths) and Alans crossed the Rhine and poured into Gaul. Nearly all the legions in the East were withdrawn and sent west to face the barbarian threat. Although some were defeated and forced to work as Roman soldiers, the invasions just kept coming. To make matters worse, in 407, Constantine III proclaimed himself emperor and revolted in Britain. He then invaded Gaul, leaving his son Constans to hold Britain. Alaric launched another invasion in 408, and was defeated just outside Rome.

That year, Arcadius died