Alaric I
Alaric I was a notable figure in the late Roman Empire, born into a noble lineage and initially serving as a commander of Gothic troops within the Roman army. Following the death of Emperor Theodosius the Great in 395 CE, he became the chief of the Visigoths, advocating for his tribe's rights against the Roman authorities. Throughout his leadership, Alaric led his forces in raids across eastern provinces, including significant incursions into Greece and a march on Constantinople. His military career saw him appointed as magister militum in Illyricum by Eastern Emperor Arcadius in 397 CE.
Despite early setbacks against Roman forces, Alaric's fortunes changed after the execution of the Roman general Stilicho, which left his army underpaid and dissatisfied. This culminated in the historic sack of Rome from August 24 to 26, 410 CE, marking the first instance of a foreign army capturing the city in nearly eight centuries. While the Visigoths plundered much of Rome, they also demonstrated restraint, treating many inhabitants humanely. Alaric's legacy was profound, influencing significant works of late antiquity and reshaping perceptions of the Roman Empire's vulnerability. He died shortly after the sack, during an attempted march northward, leaving behind a complex legacy intertwined with the tumultuous transitions of his era.
On this Page
Alaric I
Related civilizations: Visigoths, Imperial Rome
Major role/position: Statesman, military leader
Life
Born of noble lineage, Alaric I (AL-uh-rihk) served as commander of the Gothic troops in the Roman army. Shortly after the death of Emperor Theodosius the Great in 395 c.e., he left the army and was elected chief of the Visigoths. Claiming that his tribe had not received the subsidies promised by Rome, Alaric raided the eastern provinces, marching on Constantinople and ravaging Greece. In 397 c.e., Eastern emperor Arcadius placated Alaric by appointing him magister militum (master of the soldiers) in Illyricum.
Moving from the East to Italy in 401 c.e., Alaric was defeated by the Roman general Flavius Stilicho in 402, but later (c. 405) became his auxiliary. The expense of Alaric’s mercenary forces was unpopular with the Roman aristocracy, and Stilicho’s execution under the emperor Honorius (408 c.e.) left Alaric’s army unpaid and without provisions. After several sieges of Rome and a brief elevation of a rival emperor, Alaric captured and sacked Rome for three days (August 24-26, 410 c.e.) to extract payment by force. This was the first time that Rome had been captured by a foreign army in nearly eight hundred years. Although the Visigoths plundered the city, they treated the inhabitants humanely, respected church property, and burned only a few buildings. After abandoning a plan to invade Africa, the Visigoths marched northward. Alaric died during this journey.
Influence
Alaric’s sack of the “eternal city” shocked the entire Mediterranean world. This event prompted the publication of both Saint Augustine’s De civitate Dei(413-427; The City of God, 1610) and Orosius’s Historiarum adversus paganos libri VII (after 417 c.e.; Seven Books of History Against the Pagans, 1936), two of the most influential works of late antiquity and the Middle Ages.
Bibliography
Heather, P. J. The Goths. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Publishing, 1997.
Heather, P. J. Goths and Romans, 332-489. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.