The Fall of the Western Roman Empire: Barbarian Invasions and the Rise of Germanic Kingdoms
1 .- THE SLAVES AND THE ECONOMY OF THIS CRISIS
Maximum height of empire expansion and S II (Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius).
In the third century crisis, declining but not disappearing. First barbarian incursions, attacks in the cities …… Urban decline. ….. Weak central government uncertainty in communications …… ……. Trade decline of craft production crisis …. Urban decay of the cities.
Simultaneously, they gain important rural production units (villas).
Self-sufficient (autarky). Autonomous powers. It will be an outlet for many urban citizens (unemployed artisans) and small landowners to escape the high taxes will become settlers in large domains (they are free, not pay taxes, work for a part of production and find protection from insecurity).
But eventually be bound to the earth (Reform of Diocletian, 297, servants of the “sod” or colon), have lost more freedom and obligations to the Lord (Dominus).
The shortage of slaves to manumission and the lack of new conquests
(Prisoners), its low yield and the danger of revolts system favors change …… recruitment of settlers in the large estates (prelude of feudalism).
There will still be slaves but slavery is no longer the backbone of the economy. A
From now on, self-sufficient rural economy and urban decay (with
exceptions).
5. – The Barbarian Invasions
Barbaro abroad, especially the Germanic peoples of central and northern Europe
(Germanic north, west and east).
Until the third century the Limes (Rhine-Danube frontier) is strong and the Roman legions
keep at bay barbarians (who intend to enter into the empire).
From s. III, political and economic crisis, weak Roman …….. First
barbarian incursions. The 254 vessels, Sarmatians, Franks and Germans expelled at the end, but the Romans eventually crumble Dacia in vessels (271) and northern Gaul, the Franks (268-278).
But the great invasions will not come until s. V, after the final division of the empire. Since the end of s. IV, pressure of the Huns from the east. Goths destroyed the kingdom in southern Russia ……. Large migrations of Germanic peoples to the west.
The Visigoths are admitted into the empire as a federation (376), but rebel and
defeated the Romans at Adrianople (378).
406 The Swabians, Vandals and Alans break the limes of the Rhine Franks protected by federal, not resist. Looting and destruction of Gal · lia. 408 skip the Pyrenees and settled in Hispania and North Africa. The rule only control Italy, Sicily and little else.
But the Visigoths, from the east, also invade Italy and sack Rome
(410, Alaric). After an agreement is withdrawn to the south of Gaul. As allies
Rome expel the Vandals and Alans in Hispania, but will keep them.
The northern and central Gaul is occupied by Franks, Germans and Burgundians.
Britain will be invaded by the Angles and Saxons. Finally, Burgundians and Ostrogoths
occupy Italy.
Of note is the appearance about 450 of the Huns of Attila, they move from east to west.
Constantinople is delivered paying tribute. After invade Gaul. Romans allied with the Franks and Visigoths defeated Attila in Catalàunics Campos (451). Withdrawal of the Huns to Hungary.
Fruit d all these invasions, the Western Roman Empire disappears 476
when Odoacer deposed Romulus Augustus in as the last emperor.
“Causes of the barbarian invasions:
Very complex. We know only version
Roman. The most accepted are:
Desire for wealth-Roman and best land
Possible crowding-Germanic
-Possible climate change
-Arrival of the Huns from the east
Roman-weakness (Romans developed weak and barbarians, “Romanized”)
-Division of the Empire (sacrifice of the West).
6. – Civil strife. THE “foederati.”
There will be civil strife in Rome since its inception. Some, social,
as the uprising of the Italians (91-89 BC) to get the citizenship wars
against Mithridates (88-63 BC) or the massive uprisings of slaves as
of Eunus, 1st war of the slaves (136-132 BC) and that of Spartacus (73-71 BC).
But the majority of civil conflicts were struggles for power: Civil War between Pompey i Caesar (49-46 BC), War between Octavian and Mark Antony (32-30
BC). The 193, on the death of Commodus, the year of 4 emperors, war between them. During the “Military Anarchy (235-305) also often struggles for power among the” candidates “to the emperor. After Tetrarchy Constantí get power after defeating the armies of Maxentius (312) and Licini (324).
From s.IV growing authoritarianism of the emperors and the sharp increase in the tax burden caused an exodus from the cities into the countryside. Many will become settlers on large estates but others will be devoted to banditry and piracy, joining a group of slaves revolted as the case of Bagauda in Gaul and northern Hispania or integrating with the barbarian invaders.
“The foederati: From s.IV is authorized the establishment of some tribes
Germanic in the confines of the empire as a “federal” in Rome. Receive
annuity in exchange for assuming the defense of the frontier of the empire.
Valente 376 year authorized the settlement of the Visigoths and the federation, however these rebel and defeat the Romans at Adrianople, where he died the same Roman emperor.
The Treaty or foedus “was a political contract which forced the Germans to help
militarily to the Roman Empire. In return, the territories where they installed the attached (“Hospital”). 1 / 3 of the lands ceded to the Germans in usufruct, not ownership.
Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals and Franks will be federated. To ensure compliance with the agreement Germanic chiefs gave their children to the Romans as lodgings. This system ended up failing in the s. V, when the barbarians are the weakness of Rome and its inability to make out.
7. – THE FORMATION OF THE KINGDOMS OF THE BARBARIANS AND THE EMPIRE OF THE WEST END
The Germanic peoples are creating federated independent kingdoms in those
territories they occupy. The form of state will be very different from the Roman concept (the Germanic tribes were groups of free men, warriors, led by an elected chief.) Relations with the Roman population will be difficult for racial segregation and religious differences (barbarian Arians). The Germanic kingdoms more
significant down on the old Western Roman Empire are:
-United Vandal (429-534). Frederick 435, 442 sovereign domain. After being
expelled from Spain by the Visigoths established in North Africa (Carthage), organizing a maritime empire and attacking Rome 455 (Geiseric). The Romans (Belisarius) will destroy this kingdom and incorporated it in his empire 534.
-United Visigoth (419-507, cap.Tolosa, 507-711, it should be. Toledo). Eurico. First
down in southern Gaul, but come into Hispania to expel the Vandals and Alans. The 507 is defeated by the Franks in Vouillé that are expelled from Gaul leaving only Hispania (except Galicia, Sudais kingdom for a time). The Visigothic kingdom will be destroyed by Muslims 711.
Franco-United. Federated from 358. Unit tribes with Clodoveu (482 –
511), who conquered all Gaul. Conversion to Catholicism (497 )…… Fusion
gallo-romans and germànics ……. Unitary kingdom, very strong for its internal cohesion.
Merovingian kingdom evolve into the Carolingian Empire and then.
-United Burgundian or Borgonyà (443-534). Gundobad on the area of modern
Switzerland and Lyon. Conquered by the Franks 534.
-United Ostrogoths. Theodoric “the Great”. Is established on Italy and the Adriatic region (493-553) once destroyed the kingdom of Odoacre. A lot of tension with the Roman population, racial segregation. Rivalry with the Franks, destroyed by the Romans (535-553) to incorporate it into their empire. Subsequently, other Germanic tribes, the Lombards (Alboin) occupy the north of Italy driving away to the Byzantines and establishing a new kingdom (568-774).
It is considered the date of 476 d. C. As the definitive end of the Roman Empire
the West when Odoacre, Germanic mercenaries in the service of Rome deposed the last emperor Romulus Augustus and creates a personal kingdom of Italy, sending all imperial symbols in Constantinople. By convention, it is considered that this would end the age old and starts the Middle Ages.