Download 16 Class 6 Fall of W..

Class 6 Fall of Western Roman
Empire
Dr. Ann T. Orlando
22 September 2016
Introduction
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Fourth Century after Constantine
Pope Damasus
Fifth Century Invasions
Fall of Empire in West
City of Rome
Key Historical Events in 4th
Century after Constantine
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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 (361-363) 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
The Waning Political Importance
of the City of Rome
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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
Roman-Barbarian
Relationships
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Because it is over-extended, Roman military tries to
enlist barbarian tribes into defense of frontier along
Danube, Rhine, and in England
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Barbarians get trade
Romans get security
Two problems with arrangement
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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
Social Differences in
Military Structures
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Roman Military Structure
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Very hierarchical
Soldiers not allowed to marry until they retire
Infantry
Germanic Tribes Structure
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Very diffuse; gorilla type warfare
Families expected to travel with the ‘army’
Cavalry
Classic Battle: Adrianople
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Between Roman troops under
Emperor Valens and Goths
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Roman army is completely
destroyed
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Valens disappears in the
carnage
Most of the 40,000 Roman
troops are lost
Often thought to signal
‘beginning of end’ of Roman
Empire
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9 August 378
Last Western Emperor 479
Last Eastern Roman Emperor
1453
Still studied today by military
historians
Artifacts from battle are still
being discovered
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http://www.thenagain.info/W
ebChron/Mediterranean/Adria
nople.html
Reaction to Adrianople
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Ambrose:
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“the destruction of the entire globe, the end of the world, the
funerals of relatives, the deaths of fellow citizens and above all the
violation of holy virgins and widows, which is more bitter than any
death.”
“When I heard the result of the engagement I beat my brow, tore
my hair and pondered the cause of the disaster”
Basil, “I have heard that all the roads are filled with brigands
and deserters
Gregory of Nyssa: “Let us fear afflictions, let us expect dangers;
the criminal Goths who are giving birth to a war against us are
not far off.”
John Chrysostom reported a prophecy in Constantinople before
Valens went to battle that if Valens did not reopen orthodox
churches, he would be defeated
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“widows of the fallen have no idea what became of their husbands”
Adrianople and Church History
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Emperor Valens
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Patriarchate of Constantinople staunchly Arian during
his reign
After battle Orthodox will claim battle was God’s
wrath on Valens and Arians
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To resolve infighting among Constantine's successors,
empire divided East and West, along Diocletian’s lines
Valens Augustus in East is an Arian
Turning point in balance of political power between Arians
and Orthodox
Theodosius becomes orthodox emperor
Split Empire after Theodosius
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When Theodosius dies in 395, empire
split between his sons
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Arcadius in the East (r. 395-408)
Honorius in West (r. 395-423)
Both face severe pressures from
Germanic tribes along their borders
Election of Pope Damasus (r.
366-384)
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Civil and economic importance of Papacy in city of
Rome dramatically increases after Constantine
Election of the pope becomes a civil and economic
matter as well as religious
Riots break out with much blood shed between
Damusus’ supporters and those of his rival, Ursinus
Damasus election affirmed by emperor (Gratian and
Theodosius)
Importance of Pope Damasus
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Tasks Jerome to translate Scripture to Latin
Undertakes the translation of liturgy to Latin
Asserted Papal primacy from Jesus (Matt
16:16) through Peter
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That is, importance of Bishop of Rome beyond
Apostolic Succession
First organization of papal archives
5th Century Invasions
http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/firsteuro/imgs/map24.html
Eastern Roman Empire:
Arcadius
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Weak ruler, dominated by his ministers
and his wife, Eudoxia
Strong military leaders manage to
protect Eastern Empire from invaders
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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
St. John Chrysostom (349 – 407)
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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)
Western Roman Emperor
Honorius
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To combat continued waves of German
barbarians, Honorius
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Stilicho ‘protects’ Western Empire (by now
Italy and North Africa)
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Moves Capital to Ravenna
Relies on a German general confederate, Stilicho
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
Fall of Rome
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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
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Dies as the Vandals besiege Hippo
Ravenna
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New capital of the Western Empire during reign of
Honorius in 402: Ravenna
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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
Fall of Western Roman Empire
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With continued pressure from north, last Roman
emperor in West, Romulus, abdicates
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He lives the rest of his life in Constantinople
Odoacer becomes first German ruler in Italy (r. 476493)
He is overthrown by Ostrogoth, Theodoric (r. 493526)
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Theodoric imprisons Pope St. John I because he would not
recognize validity of Arian Christianity
Imprisons and executes Boethius for treason, Consolation of
Philosophy
Arian Ravenna
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Theodoric captured Ravenna in 493 and
made it his capital
Built S. Apollianre which includes
mosaics showing Theodoric
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Theodoric’s mausoleum in Ravenna and
still stands
The City of Rome
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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?)
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Pontifex Maximus seems to be a Renaissance title for Papacy
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Pontifex Maximus is not recognized by the Annuario Pontificio
Population in City of Rome
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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