HIEU 2041 Week 13
Alaric - ANS-Visigothic king, best known for his role in the sack of Rome in 410 AD, an event
that symbolized the decline of the Roman Empire. Before his infamous sack of Rome, Alaric
served as a leader within the Roman military structure, rising to the rank of a high-ranking
general. He was born into a prominent Gothic family around 370 AD and initially fought for the
Romans against other barbarian groups.
Date: Alaric sacked Rome in 410 AD.
Location: His activities were mainly in the Western Roman Empire, culminating in his march
through Italy and the eventual sack of Rome.
Significance: Alaric's career highlights the complexity of Roman-barbarian relations during the
late Empire. His military service for Rome demonstrates the empire's increasing reliance on
barbarian troops to maintain its military strength. The sack of Rome in 410, while not the final
end of the empire, was a profound psychological blow to the Roman world and marked a
significant point in the transition from the Roman to the post-Roman era in Western Europe. His
leadership and actions also underscored the shifting balance of power away from the traditional
Roman authorities towards regional barbarian leaders.
Amida - ANS-strategically important town in Mesopotamia during the Roman era. In 363 AD,
during the reign of Emperor Julian, Amida was captured by Roman forces as part of Julian's
Persian campaign, which aimed to secure the eastern frontiers of the Roman Empire against
the Sassanian Empire. The town was situated on the banks of the Tigris River, making it a vital
military and trading post.
Date: Amida was captured by Julian in 363 AD.
Location: Amida is located in what is now southeastern Turkey, historically part of Mesopotamia.
Significance: The capture of Amida was a notable event in Julian's brief but ambitious campaign
against the Persian Empire. Although initially successful, Julian's Persian campaign ultimately
failed and led to his death. The town itself saw several changes of hands between the Romans
and Persians, reflecting the ongoing struggle for control in the region. The capture of Amida
highlighted the challenges faced by the Roman Empire in maintaining its eastern territories
against the persistent threats posed by the Sassanians.
Battle of Adrianople - ANS-occurred on August 9, 378 AD, between the Roman army led by
Emperor Valens and a coalition of Gothic tribes, including the Thervings and Greuthungi. The
battle was a catastrophic defeat for the Romans, in which Emperor Valens was killed. The battle
is often cited as one of the worst military disasters in Roman history.
Date: The battle took place on August 9, 378 AD.
Location: Near the town of Adrianople (modern-day Edirne, Turkey).
Significance: The Battle of Adrianople was a pivotal event in the history of the Roman Empire.
The significant loss of life, the death of an emperor, and the subsequent weakening of the
Roman military severely compromised the empire's ability to defend its borders against further
barbarian invasions. This defeat marked a critical point in the decline of the Western Roman
, Empire, signaling the beginning of the end of Roman hegemony in the West. The battle also
demonstrated the growing military prowess of the barbarian groups and their increasing role in
the politics of the empire.
Constantius - ANS-Roman Emperor; 2nd son of Constantine the Great. Born in 317 AD, he was
appointed Caesar by his father. Following Constantine's death in 337 AD, the empire was
divided among his three surviving sons, with Constantius inheriting the eastern provinces. After
a series of conflicts with his brothers, he became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire from 353
AD until his death in 361 AD. His reign was marked by significant military and administrative
challenges, including defending the empire against external barbarian threats and internal
usurpers.
Date: Constantius II reigned as sole emperor from 353 to 360 AD.
Location: His rule extended across the Roman Empire.
Significance: Constantius II's reign was notable for his efforts to defend the empire against
various barbarian groups, particularly in Gaul where he had some success. His military
campaigns and diplomatic maneuvers helped maintain Roman authority in a period of
increasing external pressures. Additionally, his reign saw the continuation of the establishment
of Christianity as a dominant force within the empire. His religious policies, however, also
fostered division, particularly through his support of Arianism over the Nicene orthodoxy.
Constantius II's death led to the brief rule of Julian, who attempted to restore paganism as the
state religion.
Donatism - ANS-Christian movement and theological controversy that arose in the Roman
province of North Africa, primarily within the Church of Carthage, in the early 4th century. It
originated from a dispute over the consecration of Caecilian as Bishop of Carthage, with
opponents arguing that his consecration was invalid because one of the bishops who
consecrated him had surrendered sacred texts during the Diocletianic Persecution. Donatists
argued that the validity of sacraments depended on the moral purity of the clergy who
administered them, thus rejecting the authority of priests and bishops who had lapsed under
persecution.
Date: The movement was most active from the fourth to the sixth centuries.
Location: Centered in Carthage, within the Roman province of North Africa.
Significance: Donatism led to a major schism in the early Christian Church, reflecting deeper
social and religious tensions within the Christian community during this period. The dispute over
the nature of the Church and the sanctity of its clergy was central to Donatist beliefs. The
movement was significant enough to prompt several Church councils and imperial decrees
against it, and it highlighted the challenges of defining orthodoxy and authority within early
Christianity. It also demonstrated the regional complexities of the Church's expansion in the
Roman Empire.
Franks - ANS-Germanic tribe originally located in the lower and middle Rhine region. They
came into increasing contact and conflict with the Roman Empire during the late Roman period.
In 358 AD, Julian the Apostate, then Caesar of the Western Roman Empire, defeated the
Franks and subsequently settled them as foederati (allied but semi-independent federates)
