The First Millenium

[Vince]

406 is a very, very bad year. Unless, of course, you're a German.

Radagaisus appears on the scene. He leads 20,000 Gothic warriors, accompanied by 80,000 family members, in an invasion of Italy that catches the Romans by surprise. He lays siege to Florence, and for six months he controls northern Italy while General Stilicho is mobilizing his forces. Desperately short of troops, Stilicho makes an alliance with the Huns.

Cut off from Rome, the one remaining legion in Britain rebels against Western Emperor Honorius, declaring Marcus as Emperor. Marcus is quickly assassinated, however. Gratian replaces him and prepares to repel a German invasion of Britain.

On December 31, the Vandals cross the Rhine and invade France.

Can things get any worse? Yes. Attila the Hun is born.


“Who could believe that Rome, built upon the conquest of the whole world, would fall to the ground? That the mother herself would become the tomb of her peoples? That all the regions of the East, of Africa and Egypt, once ruled by the queenly city, would be filled with troops of slaves and handmaidens? That to-day holy Bethlehem should shelter men and women of noble birth, who once abounded in wealth and are now beggars?"
Jerome, translator of the Latin Vulgate

 

[Vince]

Things only get worse in 407. Unless, of course, you're a German.

The only remaining Roman legion in Britain declares Constantine III, their general, to be Emperor of the Roman Empire. Constantine III was in a difficult situation. His one legion had rebelled against the Western Emperor Honorius, declared two generals as Emperor and assassinated them, and now declared him Emperor, all within a few months. The Vandals, with German and Iranian allies, are plunging through France, and Rome can't stop them. Britain itelf is cut off from Rome.

Constantine III gathers all the forces he can, and he abandons Britain. Promising local British forces loyal to Rome that he is on his way to the capital to claim the Empire, he sails to France, and after a series of defeats, he beats the Germans so badly that he is able to establish a secure kingdom that actually protects the Italian frontier from the Germans in France. Story tellers improve the tale, claiming that King Arthur invaded the continent and forced the Empire to give Britain its independence.

But the bell is tolling for the Empire. The Romans will sometimes defeat the Germans in France, but they will never be able to expel them.

Liu Bobo, a handsome, intelligent man with great speaking ability, betrays his benefactors and forms the Chinese state of Xia. Ruthlessly murdering the royal families who had helped him, he eventually builds a capital city designed to withstand siege, that lasts for centuries.

 

[Vince]

407 is such a bad year that I decided to give it another try.

General Stilicho assembles his army and marches north against the 20,000 man Goth army that has seized northern Italy. He defeats them, executes their king, and drafts survivors into the Roman army while selling off those he doesn't want.

Survivors of a shattered Roman army in France manage to get back to Italy. They have to pay toll to a band of outlaws who hold the Alpine passes into northern Italy.

As the Vandals pillage France, General Stilicho is able to hold onto some areas, but for a strange reason. The Vandals are interested in loot, but they aren't interested in staying. They keep heading west, and the Romans and the Franks return to their homes.

But Constantine III, with his one legion of troops, starts attacking French cities that Rome still holds. In addition to his one legion, Constantine III is being joined by wealthy Britains who bring their private armies with them as they realize that Britain has been abandoned by Rome. Local Romans join Constantine, not because they are loyal to him, but because he is their only hope.

Constantine III does badly at first. He occupies northern French territory, and local Roman troops join him, but he is beaten by both the Germans and General Stilicho. However, Stilicho realizes that this is madness: the Germans are pillaging the Empire, while the Romans are fighting themselves. He withdraws back towards Italy.

Plagued by Germans on their western border, and fearing the growing power of India and other Asian empires on their eastern border, the Eastern Empire is unable to help.

 

[Vince]

Let's see how the year 408 goes.

Upon the death of his weakling father, seven-year-old Theodosius the Younger becomes Emperor of the East, reigning for 42 years. Things start out rough, as the Huns break their treaty and attack, burning and seizing Roman forts as they head east. After rejecting the Huns' demand for tribute, the Romans begin pushing them back towards Germany.

Constantine III has a good year. He fortifies the Alpine passes that protect Italy, as well as the passes into Spain. Conflicting records say that he conquered Spain, but apparently, the Romans there voluntarily rallied to him as their only hope, but they were not loyal to him.

Alaric, king of the Visigoths, had been driven out of Italy a few years ago and and now rules Greece and the area north of Greece. He actually becomes a friend and ally of his old enemy, General Stilicho. Alaric starts demanding tribute from both the Eastern and Western Empires, and Stilicho agrees.

Meanwhile, the Vandals continue to pillage parts of France as they head westwards, toward Spain.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to the year 409.

It's another bad year for the Romans, especially for Constantine III. His general in Spain declares Maximus as Emperor.

With most of France under their control, the Vandals enter Spain. They divide the Iberian Peninsula among themselves, but they still have to conquer it. The Visigoths and Romans are already there, and they are not happy about the invaders.

The political enemies of General Stilicho organize a well-planned revolt. Many of his senior officials are executed, and Stilicho is beheaded. Romans in Italy then begin a massacre of the wives and children of German troops serving in the Roman army. Horrified, these Germans flock to Alaric, king of the Visigoths, and Alaric invades Italy. For the third time in ten years, the Germans successfully seize northern Italy, as the Romans, having lost a large part of their army, fall back to Rome. Alaric reaches the walls of Rome itself, but leaves after receiving tribute.

Ravaged by both the Scots and Germans, the English revolt, expelling Roman officials and forming their own government and military.

And a famine strikes France, Spain, and Italy.

Yazdegerd the Wicked, King of Persia, grants freedom of religion to Christians, although they are not allowed to win converts. Most of the time he rules peacefully, but he alternates between persecuting and promoting Christianity and Zoroastrianism. He gets along well with both halves of the Roman Empire.

 

[Vince]

In the year 410, the unthinkable happens.

Having made a treaty with Alaric, king of the Visigoths, the Romans quickly set about violating the pact. Alaric turns back, and in August his army forces its way into the city of Rome. For three days, they sack the city, actually doing little damage, but carrying off large amounts of treasure. Arian Christians, they spare the Catholic churches, but go out of their way to destroy pagan temples. A few weeks later, Alaric dies, and it is suspected among the Germans that God killed him for looting Rome.

It's official. His throne secure, Emperor Honorius orders the Britains to look after their own defenses. The British revolt, removing Roman officers, and become independent. They quickly break up into a large number of small kingdoms.

Desperate for allies, Constantine III, who still claims to be Emperor of the West, is given a high military rank and ordered to hold as much of France as he can. He was already doing this, but neither side can afford to keep fighting.

Meeting in the Persian capital, Christians form “The Church of the East.†They appoint their own bishop, declaring him the highest of all Eastern bishops. Five centuries later, it will reach from the Mediterranean to China and India, covering the largest area of any Christian denomination of that time.

 

[Vince]

Like a punch-drunk boxer, Rome stumbles into the year 411.

Spain and Britain have turned against Constantine III, and he had even tried invading Italy last year. In eastern France, his troops revolt and declare Jovinius, a Roman senator, as the Emperor, establishing a successful kingdom that borders on Germany. Now, a Roman army loyal to Western Emperor Honorius attacks him. Constantine III surrenders and is beheaded.

The Burgundians were a minor tribe from Scandinavia that had migrated to eastern Germany. Almost annihilated by other Germans, they had invaded France and established the kingdom that set up Jovinius as their Emperor, in alliance with other local Germans. Eventually, Emperor Honorius is forced to grant them the land and make a treaty with them, while they continue to raid the Romans.

In Spain, the Alans (a German tribe) settle into what is now the nation of Portugal.

In Africa, the Council of Carthage declares Donatism to be a heresy. The Donatists had peacefully taught that Christianity is a religion of saints, not sinners, and practiced rigorous exclusion of Christians who turned away, even under threat of death. With their own bishops, they had declared themselves to be the "one, true, church," rejecting the authority of the Pope. Although they continue to exist, after this conference their numbers steadily decline.

 

[Vince]

It's 412, and the bell keeps tolling for Rome.

Jovinius, who claims to be Emperor, expands his Burgundian kingdom into much more of France. Local Romans, as well as survivors of Constantine III's forces, rally to him.

The Visigoths gain control of southern France, and Western Emperor Honorius is forced to give them his half-sister as hostage. Ataulf, the Visigoth king, then marries her. He and Honorius eventually become friends and allies.

Heraclianus, governor of the province of Africa, declares himself Emperor of the West, He cuts off grain shipments to the city of Rome, intending to use famine to force their surrender. He also begins assembling troops and ships for an invasion of southern Italy.

Two French bishops are expelled for being Manichaeism. Saint Augustine, the bishop of Hippo, is also a Manichaean, but he is friends with the Pope, and besides, he is busy persecuting the Donatists.

 

[Vince]

It's already 413!

In response to the charge that Christianity was to blame for the fall of Rome, Saint Augustine overturns the theory of Rome that was devised by Eusebius. The Roman Empire, he claims, was influenced both by God and by demons. Rome, he writes, was a product of sin and based on self-love, robbery, violence and fraud. He describes the Romans as the most successful brigands in history.

Heraclianus, the governor of Africa who had declared himself Emperor, invades southern Italy. He is defeated in a battle that might have cost 50,000 lives, and then killed.

Having made a treaty with Rome, Ataulf, King of the Visigoths, attacks Jovinius, who ruled the Burgundian Kingdom in France. Ataulf wins, and Jovinius is executed.

Kumaragupta I becomes ruler of the vast Gupta Empire in India for the next forty years. He erects an iron pillar nearly 24 feet high in his own honor, and the pillar still stands.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 414.

Eastern Emperor Theodosius the Younger is still too young to rule, so his sister Pulcheria declares herself Empress. The Senate makes her regent, and she takes over control. A devout Christian, she is honored as a saint by both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. She begins appointing Germans to high military positions.

Abdas of Susa is a devout bishop in Persia. Despite persecution by the local Zoroastrian clergy, he wins large numbers of converts. He is accused of burning down a pagan temple, and it is impossible to prove it one way or the other. When he refuses to pay for repairs, the Persian government begins a persecution of Christians.

 

[Vince]

415

Some early theologians would fight over non-Biblical issues such as the nature of Christ. Did Jesus have one nature that was both human and divine? Or did He have two separate natures, one human and one divine? Or did He have three natures, a human, a divine, and one that was a blend of the two? And how closely were these natures connected? These theologians rarely turned to murder to resolve these non-Biblical doctrines, but they were sometimes willing to turn to persecution. And to make matters worse, the Novatians refused to worship Mary.

Cyril, Pope of Alexandria, drives the Jews and Novatians from Alexandria. Considered a Doctor of the Church and a Church Father, he was so vehement in his persecution of others that he was condemned by the Eastern Emperor and regarded as a murderous madman by his rivals. But his side persecuted its way to the top, leaving the Catholic Church with the problem of following the doctrines of a wicked man. Fourteen centuries later, they finally declared him a saint.

The Visigoths assassinate their king, Ataulf, and elect Wallia in his place. Known to history as a wise ruler, he makes peace with Rome and is granted land in Spain. There is one hitch: he must defeat the Vandals and Alans in Spain to get his land.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 416.

As part of his peace treaty with Rome, Wallia, king of the Visigoths, invades Spain. The Vandals, along with their allies, had conquered Spain, settling down there to stay. Nobody knows it, but this is one of the greatest disasters in the history of the Roman Empire.

Written eight centuries later, the Javanese Book of Kings describes a massive volcanic explosion in Indonesia that destroys some islands, forms others, and changes the shapes of some.

Rutilius begins writing his great historical poem about Rome. A court official who had already put in a few decades of service, he describes the politics and court intrigues of the time, hoping for a restoration of paganism.

 

[Vince]

417 is here!

A bad-tempered Greek named Zosimus (417-418) becomes Pope. An active, hard-working man about whom nothing is known before his Papacy, Zosimus tried and failed to settle power struggles between French bishops and African bishops. Deceived by the Pelagians, he first protected them but later condemned them.

The Pelagians taught that man was capable of earning his salvation by good works, and since they had not, they were criminals who needed to be pardoned by God.

Having invaded Spain, the Visigoths successfully establish a kingdom. Now, what happens to the Vandals? They had plundered France but kept moving until they reached Spain and then they had settled there.

 

[Vince]

418 is here!

The British monk Pelagius is excommunicated. Clearly teaching salvation by works, he had founded Pelagianism.

After Pope Zosimus dies, two Popes are elected. A minority of clergy, backed by a mob, seizes the Lateran Council and elects Eulalius. The majority meet the next day in a church and elect Boniface.

Relying on his popularity with the crowds, Eulalius disobeys orders from the Emperor for both of them to leave Rome while a council of Italian bishops decides the matter. After failing to decide the issue, a second synod rules in favor of Boniface. Eulalius agrees to become a bishop, instead.

The Emperor Honorius agrees to the founding of the Visigothic Kingdom. Comprising modern Spain (but not Portugal) and a small portion of France, this kingdom lasts for three centuries. Arian at first, it eventually converts to Catholicism. The Eastern Empire tries to maintain control, but the Visigoths ignore them.

(March 10) Jews are excluded from all public offices and dignities in the Roman Empire.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 419.

Theodoric I becomes king of the Visigoths in Spain, ruling for thirty-three years. He receives a command from Western Emperor Honorius to abandon Spain and move his people to southern France. He quietly begins to settle the Visigoths in southern France, while watching Rome decline in power.

Gong becomes Emperor of China, after General Liu Yu assassinates his brother. The last of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Gong himself is assassinated by Liu Yu two years later.

 

[Vince]

It is now 420 AD.

The Empire outlaws the Pelagian Heresy in Rome. In newly-independent Britain, Pelagianism flourishes.

In China, General Liu Yu assassinates the new Emperor and seizes the throne. thus, the Jin Dynasty ends and the Song Dynasty begins.

The various Frankish tribes unite and invade France. Legend tells us that they were led by a unified king named Pharamond, who might not have existed.

Bahram V succeeds Yazdegerd the Wicked as king of Persia. Immediately beginning a persecution of Christians, he is informed by James Intercisus, a court official, that James is a Christian. James' slow, torturous death provokes the Eastern Empire into declaring war.

 

[Vince]

It's time for the year 421!

Constantius III, a successful general, is named co-Emperor of the Western Empire by the Emperor Honorius. A successful politician, Constantius III becomes the real ruler, but the Eastern Empire refuses to recognize him. Seven months after taking the throne, and Honorius is once again Emperor of the West.

Angered at their persecution of Christians, Eastern Emperor Theodosius II declares war on the Persian Empire.

The rabbi Ravina I had begun compiling the Talmud, a collection of rabbinical teachings. He dies before completing his work and his nephew finishes it.

 

[Vince]

Already it is the year 422.

After devastating the Persians, the Eastern Empire is attacked by the Huns, who advance on Constantinople. The Persians also manage to invade the Eastern Empire, but are held back by a besieged Roman fort that refuses to surrender. A peace treaty guarantees religious freedom in both Empires, restores all lands, and requires the Eastern Empire to pay an annual tribute to the Huns.

Celestine I becomes Pope. Vigorously opposing any dissent, he even imprisons his opponents, including an Italian bishop.

Two years after seizing the throne, Emperor LiuYu of China dies. This brilliant general had united all of southern China back into one nation before assassinating the emperor. Although northern China still consisted of a variety of small states, they were unable to threaten China and they were eventually absorbed back into the empire.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 423.

Western Emperor Honorius dies, and Joannes, a civil servant, seizes the throne. Joannes is a mild-tempered, intelligent man who tolerates the different Christian sects. Learning of this, Eastern Emperor Theodosius prepares for war.

Theodoret of Cyrus becomes bishop of Cyrrh, in Syria. (Yes, I got both spellings right). He tries to unite the various factions of Christianity, teaches that Mary should be called the "Mother of God," and tries to end persecution of his opponents.

 

[Vince]

And now it is 424.

Eastern Emperor Theodosius III declares his five-year-old nephew Valentinian III as Caesar of the Western Emperor. He doesn't ask the Western Empire's permission; he is preparing to invade them.

Joannes, the new Western Emperor, knows this means trouble. He sends young Flavius Aetius to negotiate with the Huns, hoping that the Huns will help him in the upcoming war. Raised by the Germans as a hostage, Aetius has learned their ways and tactics. He recruits the Huns as allies, but not in time.