How Did The Barbarian Roads Lead To The Fall Of Rome

The decline and eventual fall of Rome was an event that shaped European history for centuries. Rome was sacked in 476 by Odoacer, and the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed. After the Western Roman Empire fell, it split apart into multiple kingdoms controlled by different groups. The Eastern Empire, however, did not fall until 1453, when Constantinople was taken by Mehmed II. The Western Roman Empire fell because of many reasons, but the barbarian invasions dealt the last blow and ultimately led to the fall of Rome. Rome was plagued by many problems in the 5th century C.E., such as economic problems, bad military, a corrupt government, and barbarian invasions. Under one third of the Western Empire’s tax base was protected,

This may have occurred because the Western Roman Emperor, Petronius Maximus, married the betrothed of King Geiseric’s son. The Vandal sack of Rome was unlike anything before: they didn’t pillage, kill, rape, or destroy, but rather kept order while taking valuables so that no goods were accidentally destroyed. The Huns were the driving force that led to the fleeing of the Germanic tribes into the Western Empire. They came from the steppes and attacked Rome because of the empire’s wealth. The Huns were led by Attila, who killed his brother Bleda to rule the Huns. The Huns attacked numerous cities after earthquakes in the Eastern Empire, but not conquering Constantinople. Attila did, however, make the Eastern Empire pay him 2,100 pounds of gold a year before leaving to attack the Western Empire. The sister of Valentinian III, Honoria, sent him her ring as a plea of help to Attila, and he laid claim to half of the Western Empire. He proceeded to attack many cities, was defeated on the Catalaunian Plains, and returned in 452 before retreating due to either a lack of supplies or a plague ravaging his army. Attila died in 453, and due to a lack of a successor, his sons fought amongst themselves, destroying the Hunnic Empire. Tribes that Attila had suppressed rebelled, for example, the Gepidae, led by Ardanic, defeated Attila’s son Ellac. How were the Huns effective? They fought in wedge-shaped masses, scattering into bands and attacking troops from many sides. The Huns rode on small horses with high stamina and used saddles that had secure seats, because they used two hands for shooting. They fought with sabers and asymmetrical 130cm composite bows that were clumsier and harder to aim, but were more powerful. All of these barbarian invaders individually were not strong enough to defeat Rome in one invasion. Rome had an estimated three hundred thousand to six hundred thousand troops in its army, while