Collapse of Empire - Practice - Lyons

Alaric invades Rome

410

Alaric king of the Visigoths lay seige to Rome in 408 but was paid 5000 pounds of gold and 30,000 pounds of silver by the Roman senate to stop the seige. Many romans died of the plague during this seige. Later he returned. Slaves opened the gate and allowed him to enter - this was the first time in 800 years that it was sacked. Many Romans were taken prisoner, 10,000s fled to the countryside or even to Africa.