Faced with Barbarians at his doorstep, usurpers on the frontiers, and rebellious subjects in Rome itself, the third-century emperor Aurelian had turned to the soldiers’ own gods for help, restored and reunited the broken empire. But before his work could take root he was assassinated leaving the Empire at risk once again. Now the Roman Empire lay in peril. Many rulers vied for power. From this chaos one man emerged eliminating his rivals and reuniting the Empire under the sign of a new god. His name was Constantine; he would stop at nothing to save a dying Empire. Rome: Rise & Fall of an Empire X: Constantine the Great
In 303 A.D. the emperor Dioclesian issued an edict against all Christians that became known as the Great Persecution. ibid.
When Dioclesian suddenly fell ill he was forced into retirement. ibid.
It was up to Constantine to lead his father’s troops and secure their allegiance into battle. ibid.
All of the western empire belonged to Constantine. As agreed, he left the East for Licinius. ibid.
Christians throughout the empire were able to worship freely. And for the first time ever, their faith was shared by the Emperor. ibid.
The persecution of Christians was just the excuse he [Constantine] needed to attack Licinius. ibid.
Haunted by these sins, Constantine wanted nothing more than to die with a clean conscience. ibid.
An extraordinary man rose victorious – his name was Constantine. Fighting under the banner of a new God he would bring unity to a divided Roman Empire. Rome: Rise & Fall of an Empire XI: The Barbarian General
In the chaos two mighty leaders emerged. One from within the Empire, the other from the ranks of the enemy. Their struggle would mirror an Empire at war with itself. ibid.
The Empire was divided into two: the West was ruled by the Emperor Valentinian in Rome; while the Emperor Valens ruled the east. ibid.
‘The Goths were far more numerous and they had a lot to fight for.’ ibid. Richard Burgess
Two-thirds of the imperial army was lost. ibid.
Without delay the eastern Emperor Theodosius led his legions west to confront the usurper. ibid.
The Goths declare Aleric their king. Aleric’s Gothic kingdom stood unchallenged as the Empire faced other critical upheavals elsewhere. ibid.
A terrible new and alien ememy threatened both the Goths and the Romans – the Hun. ibid.
In the late 4th century A.D. wave upon wave of Barbarian attacks poisoned Rome with racial hatred against its own immigrant soldiers. Rome: Rise & Fall of an Empire XII: The Puppet Master
An Empire on the brink of collapse. In the 5th century, over 500 years after Julius Caesar, the Empire was surrendering land rapidly to foreign invaders. ibid.
The Empire had been officially divided between East and West for over 75 years … The West had lost most of its territory to Barbarian invaders. ibid.
The Vandal forces sailing from their stronghold in Carthage. ibid.
By selling the treasures of Rome, Avitus saved himself only. ibid.
Hungry and hopeless, the people rioted in the streets. ibid.
Avitus was dead and Rome celebrated. ibid.
The Vandals were proving too clever for the Romans. ibid.
Ethnic tensions continued to divide an already weakened Empire. Rome: Rise & Fall of an Empire XIII: The Last Emperor
Out of the chaos a Roman leader rose to power determined to restore the time of glory, and in his path stood a fearce Barbarian warrior prince. ibid.
Lacking a well-equipped army, Rome was powerless to oppose one of the largest Barbarian forces the Empire had ever seen – the Empire of the Huns led by their formidable warlord Attila. ibid.
But the collapse of the Hun venture did not save Rome. ibid.
The cities fell into disrepair. Hunger prevailed, and beggars littered the streets. ibid.
Rome was forced into a treaty with a tribe known as the Burgundians. ibid.
Repeated Visigoth incursions into Gaul. ibid.
[General] Orestes did not accept the crown for himself. But instead named his young son Romulus Augustulus as Emperor. ibid.
His Barbarian soldiers were not rewarded for their services. ibid.
476 A.D. Orestes had little experience of combat and therefore had little chance against the savage battle tactics of Odoacer’s Barbarian troops. ibid.
Odoacer became Rome’s first Barbarian leader. He was King and not Emperor. ibid.