◄
PREVIOUS
Important Terms, People, and Events
|
NEXT
►
Rome from Tranquility to Crisis: Marcus Aurelius to Diocletian (161-285 CE)
|
The Fall of Rome (150CE-475CE)
Timeline
161-180 CE: Rule of Marcus Aurelius
162-165: War Against Parthia
Roman victories at Dura Europa, Ctesiphon.
165-180s: Plague in Roman Lands
167-175: First Marcomanni War
Marcus Aurelius defeats Marcomanni and Quadi by 174.
175: Avidius Cassius Insurrection
178-180: Second Marcomanni War
Marcus Aurelius advances to Bohemia and
Carpathian mountains. Dies.
180-192: Commodius' rule
His reign is characterized by numerous insurrections; he is finally murdered in
192 by the Praetorian Guard.
193: Year of internal revolts
Many rival claimants vie for control of the Empire. Pertinax's murder.
Septimius Severus finally wins out.
193-235: Era of Severi Emperors
193-211: Rule of Septimius Severus
Campaigns against Parthians and Barbarian raids. Shows profound disregard for
the Senate.
222-235: Rule of Severus Alexander
Wars against Parthia and Marcomanni. Emperor is slain, end of the Severi
Dynasty.
235-285: Era of Soldier-Emperors
Wars against Persians, Barbarian raids, continuous civil war.
225-230s: Sassanids rise in Persia
Pose a new, expansive Persian threat to Rome in East.
285-306: Rule of Diocletian
Empire split into West and East. Diocletian's trusted ally Maximian
installed as Eastern Emperor. Empire restructured into a military, bureaucratic
state. Economic reforms, rule by Tetrarchate. Secluded emperor.
303-311: Diocletian Persecutions of Christians
306: Diocletian and Maximian's abdication. Civil war.
312: Battle of Milvian Bridge
Constantine of Britain defeats Maxentius in N. Italy, becoming sole ruler in
West. Constantine favors Christianity.
313: Edict of Milan
Constantine and Licinius, the Eastern ruler, agree to end Diocletian
persecutions of Christianity. Christianity is legalized.
324-337: Constantine as Sole Ruler
Constantine defeats Licinius, becomes sole ruler, continues Diocletian's
reforms, patronizes Christianity.
325: Council of Nicaea
Meeting of a church council, presided over by Emperor, to determine Orthodox
faith. Arianism loses out.
330: Constantinople dedicated
3361-363: Rule of Julian the Apostate
As Emperor, tries to disestablish Christianity. Pro-pagan. Dies in East while
fighting Parthians.
375-378: Rule of Valens in East, Gratian in West (to 383)
Ostrogothic Black Sea kingdom destroyed by Huns. Huns push all tribes
before them to the Danube and Rhine borders of the Roman Empire.
378: Battle of Adrianopole
Valens defeated, killed by Visigoths he had allowed to cross the border
but had not supplied. Defeate occurred so quickly, Gratian did not have
time to arrive and offer support.
379-95: Reign of Theodosius
Renews agreements with Visigoths, they are settled as
foederati below the Danube.
380: Arianism prohibited in East
384: Peace with Sassanids
391: Christianity recognized as state religion
Paganism proscribed, Judaism oppressed.
395: Death of Theodosius
Empire partitioned between Theodosius' sons. Arcadius in East, Honorius in
West. Imperial unity between East and West ends; the East, called
Byzantium,
begins autonomous course.
396: Visigothic departure
Following Theodosius' death, Alaric takes Visigoths out of Balkans,
going west.
401-403: Visigoth incursions into Italy
Attack on northern Italy. Beaten back by Stilicho at Pollenza (402).
406: Large-scale Barbarian invasion along Rhine
Rhadagaesius leads great Barbarian army dominated by Vandals, and
including Alans, Suevis, and Burgundians, across the frozen Rhine at Mainz.
The Barbarians attack cities and agricultural areas in Gaul, forcing the
indigenous population into the hills.
408: Visigoths return to Italy
Alaric, seeing Stilicho occupied, returns to Italy, wanting food and
status within the Roman military hierarchy. Honorius flees to
Ravenna.
410: First Sack of Rome
Given desperate material circumstances and no concessions from Imperial
authorities, Alaric permits small sack of Rome.
410-12: Visigoths in S. Italy
Visigoths attempt to get passage to N. Africa; their ships are destroyed, and
Alaric dies. Athaulf becomes king, but remains unable to work out an
agreement with Honorius.
416-419: Wallia as Visigothic King
He takes the tribe out of Italy, and fights for Honorius against a rival
claimant to the throne; in return, the Visigoths are settled as
foederati with hospitalitas in N. West Gaul and
seep into N. East Spain, setting up their own kingdom. Stilicho murdered.
420s-440s: Barbarian settlements
Widespread use of foederati-
hospalitas to settle Visigoths, Burgundians,
Suevi, Lombards, etc. in Roman lands. These tribes begin establishing
autonomous kingdoms.
429-35: Vandal passage to N. Africa
Under Gaiseric, Vandals move through Spain, cross to N. Africa, occupy
Carthage, cut off grain supplies to Rome, and begin pirate raiding.
440s: Aetius as western Master of Soldiers
440-450: Hun threat to Eastern Empire
Under Kings Rugilla and Attila, the Huns raid north of Constantinople
and demand increasing tributes. Eastern Emperor Marcian refuses higher
tribute payments in 450.
450-54: Huns in West
Going west to 'protect' Honoria, Atilla and Huns plunder Gaul. Aetius
successfully enlists Barbarian support against them.
451: Battle of Catalaunian Plains
With a mixed Barbarian-Roman army, Aetius defeats the Huns.
453-4: Atilla dies
Died without successfully introducing political order. Barbarian rising under
Gepids scatters Huns.
455: Second Sack of Rome
Vandals from N. Africa sail up Tiber and sack Rome. Extended sack.
455-476: Barbarian Roman generals and puppet emperors.
Generals of Barbarian birth, such as Ricimer, Orestes, set up puppets
like Marjorian, as Emperor and concentrate only on Italy and South Gaul.
Expansion of Barbarian kingdoms.
476: Deposition of last Western Emperor.
Barbarian general Odovacar deposes Orestes' son Romulus Augustulus, and
sends word to the Eastern Emperor Zeno that there is no need for a new
Western emperor: Odovacar rules as Zeno's 'agent'.
388-393: Theodoric the Ostrogoth unseats Odovacar
Zeno the Eastern Emperor sends Ostrogoths west to end their pressure on
Constantinople. Theodoric's 'mission' is to unseat Odovacar. He does so, and
establishes the Ostrogothic kingdom of Italy. The Western Roman Empire ceases
to exist.
Help |
Feedback |
Make a request |
Report an error |
Send to a friend
◄
PREVIOUS
Important Terms, People, and Events
|
NEXT
►
Rome from Tranquility to Crisis: Marcus Aurelius to Diocletian (161-285 CE)
|
|
