in world history between the IV and VII centuries came as the era in which dozens of people, left their former territories, went to meet his fate unknown.Among the researchers is hardly possible to find a common point of view on the causes, provided the impetus for this major phenomenon.Germanic tribes, to capture Rome in 410, was part of this process, completely changed the map of Europe.
invasion of the Huns
More two centuries before the disaster Germanic tribes periodically appeared on the borders of the Great Empire.Having made another raid, the barbarians retreated under the onslaught of the Romans, leaving behind looted and burned villages and driving off into slavery hundreds of civilians.But the smoke of fires scattered, and for a while life returned.Those who were lucky enough to survive the tragedy restored home, and after a while everything was repeated again.
It lasted almost two centuries, until now Europe has not suffered a disaster - the invasion of the Huns.Countless hordes of nomads emerged from the Asian steppes, the campaign moved from the borders of China to Europe.Moving with unprecedented speed at that time, in the short term they defeated the Germanic tribes ready, covers the northern Black Sea coast.Some of these tribes (east) was subjected to the invaders, while the other (western) stepped on land controlled by the Roman Empire, in the hope of protecting their army.
under the yoke of the Roman bureaucracy
part, their hopes dashed, and Huns, they have become inaccessible.However, avoiding a disaster - hit the other.The fact that this period in the history of the Roman state is considered to be its disintegration caused by the moral decay of the ruling elite and the entire bureaucracy.Incredible in scale Corruption corrodes all spheres of national life.
Goths, although received land for their homes, but it is very small and not suitable for either agriculture or cattle breeding.As a result of famine.In addition, they suffered from the arbitrariness of local officials, overlaid them with exorbitant taxes and unceremoniously interfere in all areas of their lives.As a result of these factors gave impetus to the processes to turn a peaceful settlers in the Germanic tribe, to capture Rome.
Uprising Germans
Events unfolded rapidly and unexpectedly for the Romans.Yesterday humble but unreported now desperate people revolted.Germans as one took up arms and marched to the capital of the Eastern Empire - Constantinople, where in 378 met on the field of battle the Germans and the regular Roman army, headed by the Emperor Valens himself.
Goths defeated in this battle and completely destroyed at the time the best army in the world.They had nowhere to retreat, and they showed miracles of heroism.Among those killed was the Romans and their emperor.It remained little more than three decades, until the day when a Germanic tribe, take Rome in 410, celebrates its bloody victory.
Nowhere once formidable capital
This defeat proved disastrous for the empire.Deprived of the army, she had since then constantly resort to mercenaries, who mostly consisted of the same Germans.They were warriors skillful, well-trained, but very unreliable and ready in the event of benefit to sell to anyone.The situation is aggravated by the fact that the civilian population has been brewing social unrest caused by the iniquities of corrupt authorities.
Germanic tribes who captured Rome 410gn.e., of course, have to face their opponents remnants of the once powerful but at the time finally decomposed state.On top of their troubles Romans lost their talented and experienced commander Stilicho - he fell victim to court intrigues.Henceforth, the capital, and devoid of a reliable army and skilled military leader, was almost defenseless.
siege of the Eternal City
This did not fail to take advantage of the Germans.Led by their leader Alaric they took Rome in the siege.Not having at that time the possibility to storm well fortified city walls, the barbarians have doomed the inhabitants to death by starvation.But this time fate was favorable to the besieged, and the Germanic tribe, take Rome in 410, agreed to withdraw, having previously obtained a huge ransom.
But it took only two years, and an insatiable Alaric again appeared under the walls of the Eternal City with its hordes.Encouraged by the recent success of the barbarians were arrogant and insolent.These were the Germanic tribes who captured Rome in 410, this time they did not arrange any, even the most generous repayment.They did not want to settle for a part - they had to get everything.The capital of the empire, once seized half the world was doomed.
stratagem Alaric
It should make a retreat and to ask how the Germanic tribes who captured Rome in 410g., Managed to overcome the walls of the city, two years earlier had been to them impregnable?In this regard, there are two versions contained in the extant records of contemporary events.On one of them, the leader of the Germans, realizing that impregnable wall, took a stratagem.
He convincingly staged preparation for the retreat, and sent to the emperor their ambassadors, who said Alaric, seeing the courage and patriotism of the Romans, did not intend to continue the siege and left the city, leaving a gift to its citizens, three hundred of his best slaves.Pleased with so unexpected deliverance, besieged took a generous gift.At night, these "slaves", killing guards opened the gate in front of the Germans.
widow, opening the way to the enemy
The other version of the story presents a different way.An eyewitness says that in those days, when the Goths again besieged the city, there lived a rich widow, who with all his heart sympathized with the citizens and to look for opportunities to somehow ease their suffering.Seeing that Nike is no hope of salvation and the first cases of cannibalism caused by hunger, she gave orders to his servants the night the Germans to open the gates of the city, even if it will have to kill the guard.
What really happened in those days, is now hardly possible to install.Were the Romans are so gullible that let in their town a "fifth column" and the venerable matron had a disservice to his countrymen - now it is hardly possible to establish quite clearly.And it is not important.The main thing that Sinister Alaric reached his goal, and bloodthirsty hordes broke into the city.
fall of the Roman capital
have survived many historical chronicles left by witnesses of those events.They describe how Germanic tribe, take Rome in 410, during the three days of looting and riots indulged.From the pages of the documents as if pouring streams of blood and heard the dying screams of the dying.They tell of how the lot of thousands of civilians became slaves, and those who fled the city to escape the enemy while under the open sky death from hunger and disease.
Alaric is like a monstrous leech, sucking capital out of the last drop of blood left a dying city and moved to the North Germanic tribe, take Rome in the middle of 410.
Year this was to become a turning point in the history of the whole of Europe.Her rapidly redrawn map.Seemed unshakable colossus collapsed, burying under its ruins the entire ancient world.
