The Roman Empire enjoyed a resurgence in power under
Constantine. However after his death in 337 CE the Empire was once again beset
by internal conflict as well as attack from enemies at its peripheries. The
following table highlights some of the key events that preceded the collapse of
the Western Empire in 476 CE.
Table 10 Key Events leading to the Fall of the Western Roman Empire
Event
|
Significance
|
Death of Constantine
(337 CE)
|
Division of the Empire amongst his three sons –
Constantine II, Constantius II and Constans. Conflict between sons.
|
Reign of Julian Apostate (361-364 CE)
|
Julian tries to restore Paganism as the central religion
of Rome. Attempt will fail.
|
Defeat at the Battle of Adrianople (378 CE)
|
Roman loss and the death of the Emperor Valens at the
hands of the Goths symbolizes reflects the ascendancy of the Germanic Tribes. Soon afterwards (402
CE) the capital city is moved to Ravenna. Will remain there until 476 CE.
|
Edict of Thessalonica (380 CE)
|
Emperor Theodosius I declares Christianity to be the State
Church of the Empire. In 394 CE Theodosius will briefly re-unite the East and
West Empires.
|
Rome is sacked by Alaric
(410 CE)
|
Visigoth king Alaric I sacks Rome – an important event in
the decline
|
Atilla the Hun attacks Eastern Rome (447 CE)
|
Atilla will ravage both the Eastern and western
Empire before being defeated at the
Battle of Chalons in 451 CE by an alliance of the Romans with the Visigoths.
|
The Ricimer Period (457-472 CE)
|
The manipulative general Ricimer has de facto control over
a Western Roman Empire teetering on the brink of collapse
|
War against the Vandals
(468 CE)
|
Vandals join the Gothic, tribes and Huns as another group
plundering a moribund Western Roman Empire.
|
Official Year of the Fall of the Western Roman Empire (476
CE)
|
Odoacer a Germanic general ousts the politician Orestes
from power and then forces the last Emperor Romulus Augustus to abdicate. The
Western Empire is no more.
|
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