Editing Stilicho (section)

== Downfall ==
In order to protect Italy from invasions by Alaric (401–402) and Radagaisus (405–406), Stilicho had seriously depleted the Roman forces defending the Rhine frontier. He left it defended "only by the faith of the Germans and the ancient terror of the Roman name", as Gibbon put it. In 406 a coalition of Vandals, [[Alans]], and [[Suevi]] (Quadians, Marcomanni, and Alemanni) from central Europe arrived at the Rhine frontier. The Franks, Rome's allies on the northern Rhine, tried to stop the Vandals from entering the Empire and fought them on the far bank of the Rhine.<ref name=HS181>Hughes, ''Stilicho'', p. 181.</ref> The Vandals defeated the Franks with the help of the Alans, but lost their king [[Godigisel]].<ref name=HS181/> On 31 December 406, the coalition [[Crossing of the Rhine|crossed the poorly defended Rhine frontier]].<ref>Potter, 298</ref> These new migrants proceeded to devastate the provinces of [[Roman Gaul|Gaul]], as well as triggering military revolts there and in [[Roman Britain|Britannia]]. Stilicho's reputation would never recover from this disaster.<ref>Joseph Vogt. ''The Decline of Rome: The Metamorphosis of Ancient Civilization''. Trans. Janet Sondheimer.  (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1967) p. 182. {{ISBN|978-029-781-392-7}}</ref>

The destruction that occurred in Gaul and the lack of an effective response from the court in [[Ravenna]] lent support to the rebellion of [[Constantine III (western emperor)|Constantine III]] in Britain, which Stilicho proved unable to quash. As Constantine moved his forces into Gaul, Stilicho sent his subordinate [[Sarus (Goth)|Sarus]] to oppose him. Sarus had some initial success, winning a major victory and killing both of Constantine's ''magistri militum'', but a relief force drove him back and saved the rebellion.  Sarus withdrew and Stilicho decided to seal off the Alps to prevent Constantine from threatening Italy.<ref>J.F. Drinkwater.  "[https://www.jstor.org/stable/526818 The Usurpers Constantine III (407–411) and Jovinus (411–413)]." ''Brittania''.  Vol. 29, (1998): 269–298. {{doi|10.2307/526818}}</ref>

Meanwhile, Constantine's rebellion having interrupted the negotiations between Alaric and Stilicho for the joint attack on Illyria, Alaric demanded the payment he was owed, threatening to attack Italy again if he did not receive a large amount of gold. The senate, "inspired by the courage, rather than the wisdom, of their predecessors",<ref name=Gibbon277>Gibbon, 277</ref> as Gibbon put it, favored war with Alaric until Stilicho persuaded them to give into Alaric's demands. They were angry at Stilicho for this, and one of the most outspoken of them, Lampadius, said "''Non est ista pax, sed pactio servitutis'' (This is not peace, but a pact of servitude)."<ref name=Gibbon277/>

Stilicho's unsuccessful attempts to deal with Constantine, and rumors that he had earlier planned the assassination of [[Rufinus (consul)|Rufinus]] and that he planned to place his son on the throne following the death of emperor [[Arcadius]] (1 May 408), caused a revolt. The Roman army at [[Ticinum]] mutinied on August 13, 408, killing at least seven senior imperial officers ([[Zosimus (historian)|Zosimus]] 5.32). John Matthews observed that the following events "have every appearance of a thoroughly co-ordinated [[coup d'état]] organized by Stilicho's political opponents".<ref>John Matthews, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=T4uMwgEACAAJ Western Aristocracies and Imperial Court AD 364–425]'', Oxford: University Press, 1990, p. 281. {{ISBN|978-019-814-499-1}}</ref> Stilicho retired to Ravenna, where he was taken into captivity. Stilicho did not resist and was executed on August 22, 408, as was his son, Eucherius, shortly afterwards.{{sfn|McEvoy|2013|p=184}}

=== Aftermath ===
In the disturbances which followed, the wives and children of barbarian ''[[foederati]]'' throughout Italy were slain by the local Romans. The natural consequence was that these men (estimates describe their numbers as perhaps 30,000 strong) flocked to the protection of Alaric, clamoring to be led against their enemies. The Visigothic warlord accordingly crossed the [[Julian Alps]] and began a campaign through the heart of Italy. By September 408, the barbarians stood before the [[walls of Rome]].

Without a strong general like Stilicho, Honorius could do little to break the siege, and adopted a passive strategy trying to wait out Alaric, hoping to regather his forces to defeat the Visigoths in the meantime. What followed was two years of political and military manoeuvering, Alaric, king of the Goths, attempting to secure a permanent peace treaty and rights to settle within Roman territory. He besieged Rome three times without attacking while the Roman army of Italy watched helplessly, but only after a fourth failed attempt at a deal was Alaric's siege a success. After months under siege the people of Rome were dying of hunger and some were resorting to cannibalism.  Then, the Gothic army broke through the gates and [[Sack of Rome (410)|sacked the city in August of 410]]. Many historians argue that the removal of Stilicho was the main catalyst leading to this monumental event, the first barbarian capture of Rome [[Sack of Rome (387 BC)|in nearly eight centuries]] and a part of the [[fall of the Western Roman Empire]].