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slavery 18 . In response they ÂmigratedÊ 19 en masse towards the Western Empire looking for safety from the Hunnic menace. The groups that migrated can be segregated into two groups, marauding armed groups and more peaceful groups who sought asylum. In AD376, the Goths sought refuge in the Empire. Many were allowed in and began to integrate themselves into the Empire but others were refused and opted to force their way past the border defences. Other Goths, Vandals, Alans and Suaves began to enter the Empire without permission. Jordanes 20 provides accounts of the Goths and the Vandals working together to achieve their joint aim of defeating the Romans. These partial alliances made the Barbarians a more formidable force. The eyes of the marauders were firmly set on seizing fertile land. The most famous was the leader of the Goths, Alaric, who managed to Âmerely sackÊ 21 Rome in AD410 (another sacking occurred in AD390) 22 . The emperor, Honorius 23 , was already in a bad situation when Alaric attacked – Honorius had moved soldiers from the European fronts to deal with an uprising of Gildo in AD398 24 . On top of this he had been forced to reinforce the areas that were threatened by the 18 Jordanes also comments on this discussing the fear the Goths had of the Huns. 19 This term is used as it is widely accepted that the Germanic peoples moved as peoples, with their homes and families. 20 Jordanes was a Roman statesman who wrote a history on the Goths, the Getica. He was of Gothic decent himself and some of his earlier writing was more mythical so he, as a source, must be taken carefully but his later writings are supported by historical findings and are more reliable. 21 Jordanes [c.600] The Getica. 22 Alaric had led an uprising of Goths who had settled in the Balkan region earlier and taken control and led them from the eastern part of the Empire into Italy. This supports the hypothesis suggested by Peter Heather that certain people become accustomed to constant migration (Migration studies by Ravenstein support his theory). Alaric though was very different to earlier settlers who saw themselves now as Romans. 23 His main general, Stilicho, though was really in control at the time, dictating policy towards the Barbarians. 24 Gildo was a Roman general in the province of Mauretania.

Sasanian Empire, which had grown in stature in the East and resulted in soldiers being taken from the provinces in the West as well as the levying of higher taxes. Heather 25 puts the percentage of soldiers moved to the East at around 20% of RomeÊs legions. The result was that the borders with the Germanic peoples were undermanned and the Goths had the confidence to enter the Empire. The position was made worse by deteriorating relations with the Eastern Empire. Traditionally the West could rely on military assistance from the Eastern Empire in times of trouble but now the two were threatening war with each other and there was no assistance. 26 Not all land was taken by the Barbarians was by force. There were some diplomatic interactions between the Romans and Germans. The main ones were agreements to give land to the Barbarians in return for them joining with Rome. Many historians such as Henry Pirenne 27 say that this indicates that there was not an invasion but more of a peaceful transition of power. This is hard to justify. For example under the Treaty of Aquitaine (perhaps the best documented agreement), the Romans gave land around Aquitaine to a group of Alan soldiers in return for them to join the Empire and fight for them. This was documented by Hydatius in his work ÂChronicleÊ. However, the Barbarians took much more land than agreed which suggests a complete lack of authority of Rome. Ward- Perkins 28 is equally sceptical about this idea of a peaceful evolution of the Empire. He quotes a bishop of an area which was given to the Barbarians who says ÂWe have been enslaved, at the price of other peopleÊs securityÊ 29 . This is indicates weakness on the part of Rome which often decided not to 25 Heather Peter [2005] The Fall of the Roman Empire. 26 This break down was due to poor leadership and decisions from the Western Empire in the face of economic problems. 27 Pirenne Henry [1923], Pirenne Thesis. 28 Ward-Perkins [2005] The Fall of Rome 29 Ward-Perkins Bryan [2005] The Fall of Rome.

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