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The Western Roman Empire refers to the western half of the Roman Empire, from its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire became known as the Eastern Roman Empire, today widely known as the Byzantine Empire. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus ( ca. December 22 244 The modern historian Timothy Barnes takes December 22 as his birthdate Events By Place Roman Empire July — Rival Emperors Carinus and Diocletian face each other in the Battle of the Margus
Rome ceased to be the capital from the time of the division. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 In 286, the capital of the Western Roman Empire became Mediolanum (modern Milan). For the processor see Intel 80286. Events By Place Roman Empire March 1 — Diocletian Mediolanum, the ancient Milan, was an important Celtic and then Roman centre Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. In 402, the capital was again moved, this time to Ravenna. Events By Place Western Roman Empire Stilicho recalls troops from the frontiers of the Roman Empire to Ravenna is a City and Comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.
The Western Empire existed intermittently in several periods between the 3rd century and 5th century, after Diocletian's Tetrarchy and the reunifications associated with Constantine the Great and Julian the Apostate (324-363). Tetrarchy ( Greek: "leadership of four " can be applied to any system of government where power is divided between four individuals Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine Flavius Claudius Julianus, known also as Julian or Julian the Apostate (331 or 332 to 26 June 363) was Roman Emperor (Caesar Events By Place Roman Empire July 3 — Battle of Adrianople: Constantine I defeats Licinius, forcing him Events By Place Roman Empire March 5 — Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 against the Theodosius I (379-395) was the last Roman Emperor who ruled over a unified Roman empire before the unification under Zeno. Flavius Theodosius (January 11 347 – January 17 395 also called Theodosius I and Theodosius the Great ( Greek: Θεοδόσιος Α΄ Events By Place Roman Empire January 19 — Theodosius I is elevated as Roman Emperor at Sirmium. Events By Place Roman Empire After the death of emperor Theodosius I, the Empire is re-divided into an eastern and a western half Flavius Zeno, original name Tarasicodissa or Trascalissaeus, Byzantine Emperor ( Circa After his death in 395, the Roman Empire was permanently divided. Events By Place Roman Empire After the death of emperor Theodosius I, the Empire is re-divided into an eastern and a western half The Western Roman Empire ended officially with the abdication of Romulus Augustus under pressure of Odoacer on 4 September 476, and unofficially with the death of Julius Nepos in 480. Romulus Augustus (c 461/463 &ndash after 476 sometimes known as Romulus Augustulus ( Little Augustus) was the last Western Roman Emperor reigning from Odoacer (435–493 also known as Odovacar (from the Germanic Audawakrs, meaning "watchful of wealth" was a Roman general and the Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Events By place Western Roman Empire September 4 — Romulus Augustus, the last Emperor of the Western Roman Empire Julius Nepos (c 430–480 was a Western Roman Emperor (474–475 or –480 during the last stage of the Western Roman Empire. Events By Place Europe Odoacer defeats an attempt by Julius Nepos to recapture Italy, and has Julius killed
Despite a brief period of reconquest by its counterpart, the Eastern Roman Empire, the Western Roman Empire would not rise again. As the Western Roman Empire fell, a new era began in Western European history: the Middle Ages. Western Europe at its most general meaning means 'all the countries in the West of Europe '
Background
As the Roman Republic expanded, it reached a point at which the central government in Rome could not effectively rule the distant provinces. The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Communications and transportation were especially problematic, given the vast extent of the Empire. News of invasion, revolt, natural disaster, or epidemic outbreak was carried by ship or mounted postal service, often requiring much time to reach Rome, and for Rome's orders to be realized in the province of origin. Cursus publicus was the courier service of the Roman Empire. It was created by Emperor Augustus to transport messages officials and tax revenues from one province For this reason, provincial governors had de facto rule in the name of the Roman republic. A Roman governor was an official either elected or appointed to be the chief administrator of Roman law throughout one or more of the many provinces constituting the
Prior to the establishment of the Empire, the territories of the Roman Republic had been divided among the Second Triumvirate, composed of Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the See also the Second Triumvirate (Argentina which held power in 1812 Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was Marcus Antonius (in Latin: M·ANTONIVS·M·F·M·N ( c January 14 83 BC&ndash August 1, 30 BC known in English as Mark Marcus Aemilius Lepidus ( Latin: M·AEMILIVS·M·F·Q·N·LEPIDVSborn ca 90 BC died 13 BC, was a Patrician Roman politician Antony received the provinces in the East: Achaea, Macedonia and Epirus (roughly modern Greece), Bithynia, Pontus and Asia (roughly modern Turkey), Syria, Cyprus and Cyrenaica. Achaea was a province of the Roman Empire, consisting of the modern-day Peloponnese in southern Greece and bordered on the north by The Roman province of Macedonia was officially established in 146 BC, after the Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus defeated Andriscus of Macedon Epirus (from Ionic Greek Ήπειρος - Ēpeiros, Doric Greek: Ἅπειρος - Apeiros, in Albanian Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Description Several major cities sat on the fertile shores of the Propontis (which is now known as Sea of Marmara) Nicomedia, Chalcedon, Cius Geography The Black Sea region loosely called Pontus by various scholars has a steep rocky coast with rivers that cascade through the gorges of the coastal ranges The Roman province of Asia, also called Phrygia was an administrative unit added to the late Republic. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía These lands had previously been conquered by Alexander the Great; thus, much of the aristocracy was of Greek and Macedonian origin. Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' Aristocracy is a form of Government, where rule is established through an internal struggle over who has the most status and influence over society and internal relations The whole region, especially the major cities, had been largely assimilated into Greek culture, Greek often serving as the lingua-franca. Koine Greek (Κοινὴ Ἑλληνική, "common Greek" or, ciˈni ðiˈale̞kto̞s "the common dialect" is the popular form of Greek which emerged in A lingua franca (from Italian, literally meaning Frankish language, see etymology under Sabir and Italian below is any Language widely
Octavian, on the other hand, obtained the Roman provinces of the West: Italia (modern Italy), Gaul (modern France), Gallia Belgica (parts of modern Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) and Hispania (modern Spain and Portugal). The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was Italia, under the Roman Republic and later Empire, was the name of the Italian peninsula. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Gallia Belgica was a Roman province located in what is now the southern part of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, northeastern The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Luxembourg (Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small Landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by Hispania was the name given by the Romans to the whole of the Iberian Peninsula (modern Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Gibraltar Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. These lands also included Greek and Carthaginian colonies in the coastal areas, though Celtic tribes such as Gauls and Celtiberians were culturally dominant. Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western The Celtiberians (or Celt-Iberians were a Celtic people of Hallstatt culture
Lepidus received the minor province of Africa (roughly modern Tunisia). The Roman province of Africa was established after the Romans defeated Carthage in the Third Punic War. Tunisia (تونس Tūnis officially the Tunisian Republic ( is a country located in North Africa. Octavian soon took Africa from Lepidus, while adding Greek-colonized Sicilia (modern Sicily) to his holdings. Sicilia ( Latin for Sicily) was the name given to the first province acquired by the Roman Republic, organised in 241 BC as a Proconsular Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy.
Upon the defeat of Mark Antony, a victorious Octavian controlled a united Roman Empire. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial While the Roman Empire featured many distinct cultures, all were often said to experience gradual Romanization. Romanization may also refer to linguistics see Romanization. Romanization was a gradual process of Cultural assimilation, in which While the predominantly Greek culture of the East and the predominantly Latin culture of the West functioned effectively as an integrated whole, political and military developments would ultimately realign the Empire along those cultural and linguistic lines.
Rebellions, uprisings and political consequences
Minor rebellions and uprisings were fairly common events throughout the Empire. Conquered tribes or cities would revolt, and the legions would be detached to crush the rebellion. While this process was simple in peacetime, it could be considerably more complicated in wartime, as for example in the Great Jewish Revolt .
In a full-blown military campaign, the legions, under generals such as Vespasian, were far more numerous. In the Military sciences a military campaign is a term applied to large scale, long duration significant Military strategy plan incorporating For other uses see Legion The Roman Legion (from Latin legio "military levy Conscription," Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Vespasian ( November 17 9 &ndash June 23 79) was a Roman Emperor who To ensure a commander's loyalty, a pragmatic emperor might hold some members of the general's family hostage. A hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security To this end, Nero effectively held Domitian and Quintus Petillius Cerialis, governor of Ostia, who were respectively the younger son and brother-in-law of Vespasian. Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( December 15, 37 – June 9, 68) born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Titus Flavius Domitianus (24 October 51 &ndash 18 September 96 commonly known as Domitian, was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 14 September 81 until his death Quintus Petilius Cerialis Caesius Rufus (born ca 30 was a Roman general Ostia Antica was the Harbour of Ancient Rome and perhaps its first colonia. The rule of Nero ended only with the revolt of the Praetorian Guard, who had been bribed in the name of Galba. The Praetorian Guard ( Latin: PRÆTORIANI was a special force of Guards used by Roman Emperors Before being appropriated Servius Sulpicius Galba ( December 24, 3 BC &ndash January 15, 69) also called Servius Sulpicius Galba Caesar The Praetorian Guard, a figurative "sword of Damocles", were often perceived as being of dubious loyalty. The Praetorian Guard ( Latin: PRÆTORIANI was a special force of Guards used by Roman Emperors Before being appropriated Following their example, the legions at the borders increasingly participated in the civil wars. A civil war is a War between a State and domestic political actors that are in control of some part of the territory claimed by the state
The main enemy in the West was arguably the Germanic tribes behind the rivers Rhine and Danube. The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic The Rhine (Rhein Rijn Rhin Reno Rain Rhenus is one of the longest and most important Rivers in Europe at 1320 kilometres (820 mi with an average discharge The Danube (In Donau from earlier Danuvius, Celtic *dānu, meaning "to flow run" Slovak and Polish Dunaj Augustus had tried to conquer them but ultimately pulled back after the Teutoburg reversal.
Parthia, in the East, on the other hand, was too remote and powerful to be conquered. Parthia ( Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was an Iranian civilization situated in the northeastern part of modern Iran Any Parthian invasion was confronted and usually defeated, and the Parthians similarly repelled any Roman invasion, creating a stalemate situation. Stalemate is a situation in Chess where the player whose turn it is to move is not in check but has no legal moves
Controlling the western border of Rome was reasonably easy, because it was relatively near, but controlling both frontiers at the same time during wartime was difficult. If the emperor was near the border in the East, chances were high that an ambitious general would rebel in the West and vice-versa, making the Empire doubly vulnerable. This wartime opportunism plagued many ruling emperors, and indeed paved the road to power for several future emperors.
Economic stagnation in the West
Rome and the Italian peninsula began to experience an economic slowdown as industries and money began to move outward. Th Italian Peninsula or Apennine Peninsula (Penisola italiana or Penisola appenninica) is one of the three Peninsulas of Southern Europe By the beginning of the 2nd century AD, the economic stagnation of Italia was seen in the provincial-born Emperors, such as Trajan and Hadrian. Italia, under the Roman Republic and later Empire, was the name of the Italian peninsula. Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus, commonly known as Trajan ( September 18 53 &ndash August 9 117) was a Roman Emperor who Publius Aelius Hadrianus (January 24 76 &ndash July 10 138 as emperor Imperator Caesar Divi Traiani filius Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, and Divus Hadrianus after Economic problems increased in strength and frequency.
Crisis of the 3rd century
Starting on 18 March 235, with the assassination of the Emperor Alexander Severus, the Roman Empire sank into a 50-year civil war, known today as the Crisis of the Third Century. Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Events By Place Roman Empire Pressure on Rome by Goths, Quadi, Sassanids Franks and Alemanni Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander, commonly called Alexander Severus, (October 1 208 &ndash March 18, 235) was the last Roman emperor Crisis of the Third Century (or "Military Anarchy" or "Imperial Crisis" was the crumbling and near collapse of the Roman Empire between 235 The rise of the bellicose Sassanid dynasty in Parthia posed a major threat to Rome in the east. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire Parthia ( Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was an Iranian civilization situated in the northeastern part of modern Iran Demonstrating the increased danger, Emperor Valerian was captured by Shapur I in 259. For other uses see Valerian. Publius Licinius Valerianus (c 200 - after 260 commonly known in English as Valerian Shapur I was the second Sassanid King of the Second Persian Empire. His eldest son and heir-apparent, Gallienus, succeeded and took up the fight on the eastern frontier. Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus (218-268 ruled the Roman Empire as co-emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260 and then as the sole Roman Emperor Gallienus' son, Saloninus, and the Praetorian Prefect Silvanus, were residing in Colonia Agrippina (modern Cologne) to solidify the loyalty of the local legions. Publius Licinius Cornelius Saloninus (242 - 260 was Roman Emperor in 260 Praetorian prefect (Latin Praefectus praetorio) was the constant title of a high office in the Roman state that changed fundamentally in nature Nevertheless, Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus, the local governor of the German provinces, rebelled; his assault on Colonia Agrippina resulted in the deaths of Saloninus and the prefect. For the alleged son of this emperor also called Postumus see Postumus Junior; for the son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa see Agrippa Postumus In the confusion that followed, an independent state known as the Gallic Empire emerged. The Gallic Empire (in Latin Imperium Galliarum) is the modern name for the independent realm that existed from 260 to 273, during the
Its capital was Augusta Treverorum (modern Trier), and it quickly expanded its control over the German and Gaulish provinces and over all of Hispania and Britannia. Trier (Trèves Luxembourgish: Tréier; Augusta Treverorum is a City in Germany on the banks of the Moselle River. Hispania was the name given by the Romans to the whole of the Iberian Peninsula (modern Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Gibraltar Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 It had its own senate, and a partial list of its consuls still survives. A senate is a Deliberative body, often the Upper house or chamber of a Legislature or Parliament. Consul (abbrev cos; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire It maintained Roman religion, language, and culture, and was far more concerned with fighting the Germanic tribes than other Romans. The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic However, in the reign of Claudius Gothicus (268 to 270), large expanses of the Gallic Empire were restored to Roman rule.
At roughly the same time, the eastern provinces seceded as the Empire of Palmyra, or the Palmyrene Empire, under the rule of Queen Zenobia. The Palmyrene Empire ( 260 &ndash 273) was a splinter empire that broke off the Roman Empire during the Crisis of the Third Century. Zenobia (زنوبيا 240-after 274 was a Syrian queen who lived in the 3rd century
In 272, Emperor Aurelian finally managed to subdue Palmyra and reclaim its territory for the empire. Lucius Domitius Aurelianus ( September 9, 214 or 215 &ndashSeptember or October 275 known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270&ndash275 With the East secure, he turned his attention to the West, taking the Gallic Empire a year later. Because of a secret deal between Aurelian and Gallic Emperor Tetricus I and his son Tetricus II, the Gallic army was swiftly defeated. Caius Pius Esuvius Tetricus was Emperor of the Gallic Empire ( Imperium Galliarum) from 270/271 to 273 following the murder of Victorinus. Caius Pius Esuvius Tetricus (also seen as Gaius Pius Esuvius Tetricus but better known in English as Tetricus II) was the son of Tetricus I, Emperor In exchange, Aurelian spared their lives and gave the two former rebels important positions in Italy.
Tetrarchy
The external borders were mostly quiet for the remainder of the Crisis of the Third Century, although between the death of Aurelian in 275 and the accession of Diocletian ten years later, at least eight emperors or would-be emperors were killed, many assassinated by their own troops. Tetrarchy ( Greek: "leadership of four " can be applied to any system of government where power is divided between four individuals Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus ( ca. December 22 244 The modern historian Timothy Barnes takes December 22 as his birthdate
Under Diocletian, the political division of the Roman Empire began. Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus ( ca. December 22 244 The modern historian Timothy Barnes takes December 22 as his birthdate In 286, through the creation of the Tetrarchy, he gave the western part to Maximian as Augustus and named Constantius Chlorus as his subordinate (Caesar). Tetrarchy ( Greek: "leadership of four " can be applied to any system of government where power is divided between four individuals Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius (c 250 &ndash c Augustus (plural augusti) Latin for "majestic" "the increaser" or "venerable" was an Ancient Roman Flavius Valerius Constantius ( March 31 c 250&ndash July 25 306) was an emperor of the Western Roman Empire (305&ndash306 Caesar (plural Caesars Latin: Caesar (plural Caesares is a Title of imperial character This system effectively divided the empire into four parts and created separate capitals besides Rome as a way to avoid the civil unrest that had marked the 3rd century. In the West, the capitals were Maximian's Mediolanum (now Milan) and Constantius' Trier. Mediolanum, the ancient Milan, was an important Celtic and then Roman centre Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. Trier (Trèves Luxembourgish: Tréier; Augusta Treverorum is a City in Germany on the banks of the Moselle River. On 1 May 305, the two senior Augusti stepped down and were replaced by their respective Caesars. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Events By Place Roman Empire May 1 — Diocletian and Maximian, Emperors of Rome retire from office
Constantine
The system of the Tetrarchy quickly ran aground when the Western Empire's Constantius died unexpectedly in 306, and his son Constantine was proclaimed Augustus of the West by the legions in Britain. Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine A crisis followed as several claimants attempted to rule the Western half. In 308, the Augustus of the East, Galerius, arranged a conference at Carnuntum which revived the Tetrarchy by dividing the West between Constantine and a newcomer named Licinius. Galerius Maximianus ( ca. 260&ndashlate April or early May 311 formally Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus was Roman Emperor from 305 to 311 Carnuntum (Καρνοιις in Ptolemy) was an important Roman army camp in what is now Austria. For other Romans of this name see Licinius (gens. Valerius Licinianus Licinius (c Constantine was far more interested in reconquering the whole empire. Through a series of battles in the East and the West, Licinius and Constantine stabilized their respective parts of the Roman Empire by 314, and they now competed for sole control of a reunified state. Constantine emerged victorious in 324 after the surrender and murder of Licinius following the Battle of Chrysopolis. The Battle of Chrysopolis was fought on 18 September 324 in Chrysopolis ( Üsküdar) near Chalcedon ( Kadıköy) between
The Tetrarchy was dead, but the idea of dividing the Roman Empire between two emperors had been validated. Very strong emperors would reunite it under their single rule, but with their death the Roman Empire would be divided again and again between the East and the West.
Second division
The Roman Empire was under the rule of a single Emperor, but with the death of Constantine in 337, civil war erupted among his three sons, dividing the empire into three parts. The West was reunified in 340, and a complete reunification of the whole empire occurred in 353, with Constantius II. Flavius Iulius Constantius, known in English as Constantius II ( 7 August, 317 - November 3, 361) was a Roman Emperor
Constantius II focused most of his power in the East, and is often regarded as the first emperor of the Byzantine Empire. Under his rule, the city of Byzantium, only recently refounded as Constantinople, was fully developed as a capital. This article is about the city See also Byzantine Empire. Byzantium ( Greek: Βυζάντιον Latin: la BYZANTIVM Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS
In 361, Constantius II became ill and died, and Constantius Chlorus' grandson Julian, who had served as Constantius II's Caesar, took power. Flavius Claudius Julianus, known also as Julian or Julian the Apostate (331 or 332 to 26 June 363) was Roman Emperor (Caesar Julian was killed carrying on Constantius II's war against Persia in 363 and was replaced by Jovian who ruled only until 364. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia For other meanings see Jovian (disambiguation. Flavius Iovianus, Anglicized to Jovian, ( 331 - 17 February
Final division
Following the death of Jovian, Valentinian I emerged as emperor in 364. For other meanings see Jovian (disambiguation. Flavius Iovianus, Anglicized to Jovian, ( 331 - 17 February Flavius Valentinianus, known in English as Valentinian I, ( 321 - November 17, 375) was Roman Emperor from 364 until his death He immediately divided the empire once again, giving the eastern half to his brother Valens. This article is about the Roman Emperor For other people called Valens see Valens Flavius Julius Valens ( Latin: DOMINVS Stability was not achieved for long in either half as the conflicts with outside forces intensified. In 376 the Visigoths, fleeing before the Huns, were allowed to cross the river Donau and settle into the Balkans by the Eastern government. The Visigoths (Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, or Wisi were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East The Huns were an early confederation of Central Asian equestrian nomads or semi-nomads with a Turkic core of aristocracy Maltreatment on the side of the Romans then caused them to rebel, and in 378 they inflicted a crippling defeat on the Eastern Roman field army in the Battle of Adrianople, in which Valens also died. The second Battle of Adrianople ( August 9 378) sometimes known as the Battle of Hadrianopolis, was fought between a Roman army led by the After roaming the Balkans for a while, the Visigoths settled in Epirus, where they remained a hostile foreign element within the empire that posed a constant threat to both halves until they finally moved into Italy shortly after 400.
More than in the East, there was also opposition to the Christianizing policy of the emperors in the western half of the empire. In 379 Valentinian I's son and successor Gratian declined to wear the mantle of pontifex maximus, and in 382 he rescinded the rights of pagan priests and removed the pagan altar from the Roman Curia, a decision which caused dissatisfaction among the traditionally pagan aristocracy of Rome. Flavius Valentinianus, known in English as Valentinian I, ( 321 - November 17, 375) was Roman Emperor from 364 until his death For other figures with this name see Gratian (disambiguation. The Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the Ancient Roman College of Pontiffs. A Curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people i
The political situation was unstable. In 383, a powerful and popular general named Magnus Maximus seized power in the west and forced Gratian's son Valentinian II to flee to the east for aid; the Eastern Emperor Theodosius I promptly restored him to power. Magnus Maximus (ca 335&ndash August 28, 388) also known as Maximianus, was an Hispanic usurper of the Western Roman Empire Flavius Valentinianus Junior (371 – 15 May 392) known usually by his Anglicised name Valentinian II, was a Roman Emperor Flavius Theodosius (January 11 347 – January 17 395 also called Theodosius I and Theodosius the Great ( Greek: Θεοδόσιος Α΄ He also caused a ban on the native paganism to be implemented in the west in 399, enforcing Christianity. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings In 392 the Frankish and pagan magister militum Arbogast assassinated Valentinian II and proclaimed an obscure senator named Eugenius as emperor. The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group Magister militum ( Latin for "Master of the Soldiers" was a top-level military command used in the later Roman Empire, dating from the reign of Flavius Arbogastes (died September 6 394) or Arbogast was a Frankish general in the Roman Empire. Flavius Eugenius (died 6 September 394 was a Roman usurper (392-394 against Emperor Theodosius I. The rebellion was overcome in 394 by Theodosius I, who then shortly ruled a united Empire until his death in 395. This was the last instance in which a single ruler ruled both parts of the Roman Empire; his sons, Honorius and Arcadius, were given the western and eastern half, respectively. Flavius Honorius ( September 9, 384 &ndash August 15, 423) was Roman Emperor (393- 395 and then Western Roman Emperor Flavius Arcadius (377/378&ndash May 1, 408) was Byzantine Emperor in the Eastern half of the Roman Empire from 395 until his death Still minors, they were placed under the tutelage of the semi-barbarian magister militum Flavius Stilicho. Flavius Stilicho (occasionally written as Stilico) (ca 359 &ndash August 22, 408) was a high-ranking general ( Magister militum
Stilicho ably defended Italy against the invading Goths, but he became a victim of court intrigues in Ravenna (where the imperial court resided since 402) and was executed for high treason in 408. Ravenna is a City and Comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Events By Place Western Roman Empire Stilicho recalls troops from the frontiers of the Roman Empire to For the area code see Area code 408. Events By Place Western Roman Empire In the summer of this year In the preceding year Vandals, Alans and Suevi had invaded Gaul in massive numbers, and while the East began a slow recovery and consolidation, the West began to collapse entirely. The Alans or Alani (occasionally but more rarely termed Alauni or Halani) were an Iranian nomadic group among the Sarmatian people The Suebi or Suevi (from Proto-Germanic * swēbaz based on the Proto-Germanic root * swē- meaning "one's own"
Economic factors
While the West was experiencing an economic decline throughout the late empire, the East was not so destitute, as Emperors like Constantine the Great and Constantius II had invested heavily in the eastern economy. Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine Flavius Iulius Constantius, known in English as Constantius II ( 7 August, 317 - November 3, 361) was a Roman Emperor The economic decline of the West contributed to its eventual collapse. While being much less urbanized and less densely populated, it stretched over a larger area and had a longer boundary to defend than the Eastern empire. The Byzantine Empire could afford large numbers of professional soldiers and augment them with mercenaries while the Western Roman Empire couldn't afford this to the same extent. Even in the case of a major defeat the East could, certainly not without difficulties, buy its enemies off with a ransom. The Western empire's resources were much more limited, and the lack of available manpower forced the government to rely ever more on confederate barbarian troops operating under their own commanders.
As the central power weakened, the State lost control of its borders and provinces, as well as control over the Mediterranean Sea. Roman Emperors tried to maintain control of the sea, but once the Vandals conquered North Africa, imperial authorities had to cover too much ground with too few resources. North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan In many places the Roman institutions collapsed along with the economic stability. In some regions, such as Gaul and Italy, the settlement of barbarians on former Roman lands seems to have caused relatively little disruption, whereas elsewhere, notably in certain parts of North Africa, the Roman landowners were expelled and their lands confiscated.
Conquest of Rome and fall of the Western Roman Empire
- See also: Decline of the Roman Empire
With the death of Stilicho in 408, Honorius was left in charge, and although he ruled until his death in 423, his reign was filled with usurpations and invasions. The Decline of the Roman Empire, leading to the Fall of the Roman Empire, or the Fall of Rome, was the end of the Western Roman Empire. Flavius Honorius ( September 9, 384 &ndash August 15, 423) was Roman Emperor (393- 395 and then Western Roman Emperor In 410, Rome was sacked by Alaric's forces. Events By place Western Roman Empire Alaric I deposes Priscus Attalus as Emperor. This event made a great impression on contemporaries, as this was the first time since the Gallic invasions of the 4th century BC that the city had fallen to a foreign enemy. Under Alaric's successors the Goths then settled in Gaul (412-418), from where they operated as Roman allies against the Vandals, Alans and Suevi in Spain, and against the usurpator Jovinus (413). Jovinus is a Roman Cognomen, most often used for a 5th century Roman usurper emperor Meanwhile another usurpator, Constantine (406-411), had stripped Roman Britain of its defenses when he crossed over to Gaul in 407, leaving the Romanized population subject to invasions, first by the Picts and then by the Saxons and Angli, who began to settle permanently on the island from about 440 onwards. Constantine III (died 411 by September 18) was a Roman general who declared himself Western Roman Emperor in 407 abdicating in 411 (and being killed The Picts were a Confederation of tribes in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from Roman times until the 10th century The Saxons or Saxon people were a Confederation of Old Germanic tribes. The Angles is a modern English word for a Germanic-speaking people who took their name from the cultural ancestral region of Angeln, a modern district located in
Honorius' death in 423 was followed by turmoil until the Eastern Roman government with the force of arms installed Valentinian III as Western Emperor in Ravenna, with Galla Placidia acting as regent during her son's minority. Flavius Placidius Valentinianus ( July 2, 419 &ndash March 16, 455) known in English as Valentinian III, was among the last After a violent struggle with several rivals, and against Placidia's wish, Aetius rose to the rank of magister militum. Aetius or Aëtius may refer to Aetius (philosopher of Antioch a 1st-century B Aetius was able to stabilize the empire's military situation somewhat, relying heavily on his Hunnic allies. The Huns were an early confederation of Central Asian equestrian nomads or semi-nomads with a Turkic core of aristocracy With their help he defeated the Burgundians, who had occupied part of southern Gaul after 407, and settled them in Savoy as Roman allies (433). The Burgundians or Burgundes were an East Germanic tribe which may have emigrated from mainland Scandinavia to the island of Bornholm, whose For the two French départements of the region of Savoy see Savoie and Haute-Savoie Savoy ( French Later that century, as Roman power faded away, the Burgundians extended their rule to the Rhone valley. The Rhône wine region in Southern France is situated in the Rhône river valley and produces numerous wines under various Appellation d'origine contrôlée
Meanwhile, pressure from the Visigoths and a rebellion by the governor of Africa, Bonifacius, had induced the Vandals under their king Gaiseric to cross over from Spain in 429. Geiseric the Lame (c 389 &ndash January 25, 477) also spelled as Gaiseric or Genseric, was the King of the Vandals Events By Place Western Roman Empire Vandals under Geiseric cross from the Iberian Peninsula They temporarily halted in Numidia (435) before moving eastward and capturing Carthage, from where they established an independent state with a powerful navy (439). Carthage (Καρχηδών Karkhēdōn, Carthago from the Phoenician קרת חדשת phn-Latn Qart-ḥadašt meaning new town) refers Events By Place Western Roman Empire Licinia Eudoxia, wife of the Emperor Valentinian III, is granted the title of ''Augusta'' The Vandal fleet from then on formed a constant danger to Roman seafare and the coasts and islands of the Western and Central Mediterranean.
In 444 the Huns, who had been employed as Roman allies by Aetius, were united under their ambitious king Attila. When Attila turned against his former ally the Huns became a formidable threat to the empire. Attila asked for the hand of the emperor's sister Honoria with half the Western Empire's territory as his dowry. Justa Grata Honoria was the sister of the Western Roman Emperor Valentinian III. When this was refused he invaded Gaul and was only defeated with great effort by a combined Roman-Germanic force led by Aetius in the Battle of Chalons (451). The next year Attila invaded Italy and proceeded to march upon Rome, but he was forced back by an outbreak of disease in his army and by reports of a campaign of Marcianus directed at his headquarters in Pannonia. Flavius Marcianus, known in English as Marcian, (396 &ndash January 457 was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 450 until his death Pannonia is an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, Attila suddenly died shortly afterwards (453).
Aetius was slain by Valentinian, who had grown jealous of his power, in 454, and Valentinian was then himself murdered by the dead general's supporters a year later. With the end of the Theodosian dynasty, a new period of dynastic struggle ensued. The Vandals took advantage of the unrest and sailed up to Rome, which they plundered in 455.
The instability caused by usurpers throughout the Western Empire helped these tribes in their conquests, and by the 450s the Germanic tribes had become usurpers themselves. During the next twenty years, several Western emperors were installed by Constantinople, but their authority only reached as far as the barbarian commanders of the Roman troops (Ricimer (456-472), Gundobad (473-475)) allowed it to. Ricimer (c 405 &ndash August 18, 472) (ˈrikimer was a Germanic general who was master of the Western Roman Empire during part of the fifth century Gundobad, Patrician of the Western Roman Empire (472-473 also became King of the Burgundians (473-516 after his father Gundioc of Burgundy In 475, Orestes, a former secretary of Attila, drove Emperor Julius Nepos out of Ravenna and proclaimed his own son Romulus Augustus as emperor. Orestes (died August 28 476 was a Roman politician who was briefly in control of the Western Roman Empire in 475&ndash6 Julius Nepos (c 430–480 was a Western Roman Emperor (474–475 or –480 during the last stage of the Western Roman Empire. Ravenna is a City and Comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Romulus Augustus (c 461/463 &ndash after 476 sometimes known as Romulus Augustulus ( Little Augustus) was the last Western Roman Emperor reigning from
In 476, Orestes refused to grant Odoacer and the Heruli federated status, prompting him to send the imperial insignia to Constantinople, installing himself as king over Italy. Odoacer (435–493 also known as Odovacar (from the Germanic Audawakrs, meaning "watchful of wealth" was a Roman general and the The Heruli (spelled variously in Latin and Greek) were a nomadic Germanic people, who were subjugated by the Ostrogoths Huns and Although isolated pockets of Roman rule continued even after 476, the city of Rome itself was under the rule of the barbarians, and the control of Rome over the West had effectively ended. There is considered to be three rump states that continued under Roman rule in some form or another after 476, Julius Nepos controlled Dalmatia until his murder in 480, Syagrius was declared King of the Romans and ruled the Domain of Soissons until his murder in 487. A rump state is the remnant of a once-larger Government, left with limited powers or authority after a Disaster, Invasion or Military occupation Dalmatia ( Croatian: Dalmacija, see names in other languages) is a region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, situated mostly in modern Flavius Afranius Syagrius (born 430 died 486 or 487 was the son of Aegidius, the last Roman Magister militum per Gallias King of the Romans ( Latin: Rex Romanorum) was the title used by the elected ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, the Imperator futurus In the Late Antique period two states in the area of modern-day northwest France were termed the Domain of Soissons. Lastly, a Roman-Moor Kingdom survived in north africa, this last bastion of Roman rule in the West resisted Vandal conquest and was re-united with the Eastern Roman Empire c. 533 when Belisarius reconquered North Africa. Flavius Belisarius (Βελισάριος (505(? – 565 was one of the greatest Generals of the Byzantine Empire and one of the most acclaimed generals in history
Last Emperor
Historical convention has determined that the Western Roman Empire ended on 4 September 476, when Odoacer deposed Romulus Augustulus. Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Events By place Western Roman Empire September 4 — Romulus Augustus, the last Emperor of the Western Roman Empire Odoacer (435–493 also known as Odovacar (from the Germanic Audawakrs, meaning "watchful of wealth" was a Roman general and the Romulus Augustus (c 461/463 &ndash after 476 sometimes known as Romulus Augustulus ( Little Augustus) was the last Western Roman Emperor reigning from However, the issue is not clear-cut and some consider Julius Nepos, who died in 480 AD, to be the last Roman Emperor. Julius Nepos (c 430–480 was a Western Roman Emperor (474–475 or –480 during the last stage of the Western Roman Empire.
Julius Nepos still claimed to be Emperor of the West, ruling the rump state in Dalmatia. He was recognized as such by Byzantine Emperor Zeno and by Syagrius, who had managed to preserve Roman sovereignty in a exclave in northern Gaul, known today as the Domain of Soissons. Flavius Zeno, original name Tarasicodissa or Trascalissaeus, Byzantine Emperor ( Circa Flavius Afranius Syagrius (born 430 died 486 or 487 was the son of Aegidius, the last Roman Magister militum per Gallias In the Late Antique period two states in the area of modern-day northwest France were termed the Domain of Soissons. Odoacer proclaimed himself ruler of Italy and began to negotiate with Zeno. Zeno eventually granted Odoacer patrician status as recognition of his authority and accepted him as his own viceroy of Italy. The term " patrician " originally referred to a group of elite families in Ancient Rome, including both their natural and Zeno however insisted that Odoacer paid homage to Julius Nepos as the Emperor of the Western Empire. Odoacer accepted this condition and even issued coins in the name of Julius Nepos throughout Italy. This however was mainly an empty political gesture as Odoacer never returned any real power or territories to Julius Nepos. The murder of Julius Nepos in 480 prompted Odoacer to invade Dalmatia, annexing it to his Kingdom of Italy and ending the opportunity of any claims by others to the Western throne. There have been several distinct entities known as the Kingdom of Italy.
Theodoric
The last hope for a reunited Empire came in 493, as Odoacer was replaced by Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths. The Ostrogothic Kingdom established by the Ostrogoths in Italy and neighbouring areas lasted from 493 to 553. Theodoric the Great (454 – August 30, 526) known to the Romans as Flavius Theodoricus, was king of the Ostrogoths (471-526 ruler of The Ostrogoths (Ostrogothi or Austrogothi were a branch of the Goths, an East Germanic tribe that played a major role in the political events of the late Theodoric had been recruited by Zeno to deal with a dangerous Odoacer. While in principle Theodoric was a subordinate, a viceroy of the emperor of the East, actually he was an equal. A viceroy is a royal official who governs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the Monarch.
Following Theodoric's death in 526, the West no longer resembled the East. The West was now fully controlled by invading outside tribes, while the East had retreated and Hellenized. While the East would make some attempts to recapture the West, the Roman Empire was never the same again.
Byzantine reconquest
Throughout the Middle Ages, the eastern, so-called "Byzantine Empire" laid claims on areas of the West which had been occupied by several tribes. Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus ( Greek: Φλάβιος Πέτρος Σαββάτιος Ιουστινιανός; known in English as Justinian I or In the 6th century, the Byzantine Empire managed to reconquer large areas of the former Western Roman Empire. The most successful were the campaigns of the Byzantine generals Belisarius and Narses on behalf of Emperor Justinian I from 533 to 554. Flavius Belisarius (Βελισάριος (505(? – 565 was one of the greatest Generals of the Byzantine Empire and one of the most acclaimed generals in history For other historical figures with similar names see Narses (disambiguation. Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus ( Greek: Φλάβιος Πέτρος Σαββάτιος Ιουστινιανός; known in English as Justinian I or The Vandal-occupied former Roman territory in North Africa was regained, particularly the territory centred around the city of Carthage. North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Carthage (Καρχηδών Karkhēdōn, Carthago from the Phoenician קרת חדשת phn-Latn Qart-ḥadašt meaning new town) refers The campaign eventually moved into Italy and reconquered it completely. Minor territories were taken as far west as the southern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra
It appeared at the time that perhaps Rome could be reconstituted. However, the tribal influence had caused far too much damage to these former Roman provinces, both economically and culturally. Not only were they extremely costly to maintain, the invasion and propagation of the Germanic tribes throughout these territories meant that much of the Roman culture and identity that had held the empire together had been destroyed or severely damaged.
Although some eastern emperors occasionally attempted to reconquer some parts of the West, none were as successful as Justinian. Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus ( Greek: Φλάβιος Πέτρος Σαββάτιος Ιουστινιανός; known in English as Justinian I or The division between the two areas grew, resulting in a growing rivalry. While the Eastern Roman Empire continued after Justinian, the eastern emperors focused mainly on defending its traditional territory. The East no longer had the necessary military strength, spelling the end of any hope for reunification.
Legacy
- Further information: Roman Catholic Church, Romance languages, Corpus Juris Civilis, Civil law (legal system), and Latin alphabet
As the Western Roman Empire crumbled, the new Germanic rulers who conquered the provinces nonetheless upheld many Roman laws and traditions. The Romance languages (sometimes referred to as Romanic languages, or Neolatin languages) are a branch of the Indo-European language family comprising all The Romance languages (sometimes referred to as Romanic languages, or Neolatin languages) are a branch of the Indo-European language family comprising all The Corpus Juris Civilis ("Body of Civil Law" is the modern name for a collection of fundamental works in Jurisprudence, issued from 529 Civil law or Romano-Germanic law or Continental law is the predominant system of law in the world. Many of the invading Germanic tribes were already Christianised, though most were followers of Arianism. Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. They quickly converted to Catholicism, gaining more loyalty from the local Roman populations, as well as the recognition and support of the powerful Roman Catholic Church. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described Although they initially continued to recognise indigenous tribal laws, they were more influenced by Roman Law and gradually incorporated it as well. Roman law is the legal system of Ancient Rome. As used in the West the term commonly refers to legal developments prior to the Roman/Byzantine state's adopting
Roman Law, particularly the Corpus Juris Civilis collected by order of Justinian I, is the ancient basis on which the modern Civil law stands. The Corpus Juris Civilis ("Body of Civil Law" is the modern name for a collection of fundamental works in Jurisprudence, issued from 529 Civil law or Romano-Germanic law or Continental law is the predominant system of law in the world. In contrast, Common law is based on the Germanic Anglo-Saxon law. Common law refers to law and the corresponding legal system developed through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive While there is virtually no evidence of Anglo-Saxon Law per se (i
Latin as a language never really disappeared. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It combined with neighboring Germanic and Celtic languages, giving rise to many modern Romance languages such as Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian and Romansh. The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic" a branch of the greater Indo-European Language family. The Romance languages (sometimes referred to as Romanic languages, or Neolatin languages) are a branch of the Indo-European language family comprising all Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. Romanian or Daco-Romanian ( dated: Rumanian or Roumanian; self designation limba română, ˈlimba roˈmɨnə is a Romance Romansh (also spelled Romansch, Rumants(ch or Romanche) is one of the four official languages of Switzerland, along with German, Latin also influenced Germanic languages such as English, German, and Dutch. The Germanic languages are a group of related languages that constitute a branch of the Indo-European (IE Language family. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname It survives in its "purer" form as the language of the Roman Catholic Church (the Mass was spoken exclusively in Latin until 1969) and was used as a lingua franca between many nations. The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. Ecclesiastical Latin (sometimes called Church Latin) is the Latin dialect as used in documents of the Roman Catholic Church and in its Latin liturgies A lingua franca (from Italian, literally meaning Frankish language, see etymology under Sabir and Italian below is any Language widely It remained the language of medicine, law, diplomacy (most treaties were written in Latin), of intellectuals and scholarship.
The Latin alphabet was expanded with the letters J, K, W and Z and is the most widely used alphabetic writing system in the world today. Roman numerals continue to be used but were mostly replaced by Arabic numerals. Roman numerals are a Numeral system originating in ancient Rome, adapted from Etruscan numerals. The arabic numerals (often capitalized are the ten Digits (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 which—along with the system
The ideal of the Roman Empire as a mighty Christian Empire with a single ruler continued to seduce many powerful rulers. Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Lombards, was even crowned as Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in 800. Charlemagne (ˈʃɑrlɨmeɪn Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus meaning Charles the Great) (747 – 28 January 814 was King of the Franks from 768 to his The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group The Lombards ( Latin Langobardi, whence the alternative names Langobards and Longobards) were a Germanic people originally from Pope Leo III (died June 12, 816) was Pope from 795 to 816 Protected by Charlemagne from his enemies in Rome he subsequently strengthened Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire like Otto I, Frederick I Barbarossa, Frederick II, and Charles V, French King Louis XIV, as well as French Emperor Napoleon I, among others, tried to a certain extent to resurrect it, but none of their attempts were ultimately successful. The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in Otto I the Great ( 23 November 912 &ndash 7 May 973) son of Henry I the Fowler and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duke Frederick I Barbarossa (1122 &ndash 10 June 1190) was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned Frederick II ( December 26, 1194 &ndash December 13, 1250) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was a Pretender to the title Charles V (24 February 1500 &ndash 21 September 1558 was List of Queens and Empresses of France Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent The Empire of the French (1804-1814 also known as the Empire of France, Greater French Empire, First French Empire, French Empire, or Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe.
A very visible legacy of the Western Roman Empire is the Roman Catholic Church. The Church slowly began to replace Roman institutions in the West, even helping to negotiate the safety of Rome during the late 5th century. As Rome was invaded by Germanic tribes, many assimilated, and by the middle of the medieval period (c. 9th and 10th centuries) the central, western and northern parts of Europe had been largely converted to the Roman Catholic Church and acknowledged the Pope as the Vicar of Christ. Vicar of Christ (Latin Vicarius Christi) has been used since Pope Gelasius I (served 492 - 496 alongside a few rarer 'vicarial' titles as one of the titles
List of Western Roman emperors
Gallic Emperors (259 to 273)
- Postumus: 259 to 268
- Laelianus: 268 Usurper
- Marcus Aurelius Marius: 268
- Victorinus: 268 to 271
- Domitianus: 271 Usurper
- Tetricus I: 271 to 273
- Tetricus II: 271 to 273 Son and co-emperor of Tetricus I
Tetrarchy (293 to 313)
Augusti are shown with their Caesares and regents further indented
- Maximian: 293 to 305
- Constantius Chlorus: 293 to 305
- Constantius Chlorus: 305 to 306
- Flavius Valerius Severus: 305 to 306
- Flavius Valerius Severus: 306 to 307
- Constantine I: 306 to 313
- Maxentius/Maximian: 307 to 308
- Licinius: 308 to 313
- Maxentius: 308 to 312 Usurper
- Domitius Alexander: 308 to 309 African usurper
Constantinian dynasty (313 to 363)
- Constantine I: 313 to 337 Sole emperor of the whole Roman Empire 324 to 337
- Constantine II: 337 to 340 Emperor of Gaul, Britannia, and Hispania
- Constans I: 337 to 350 Initially emperor of Italy and Africa; emperor of the west 340 to 350
- Magnentius: 350 to 353 Usurper
- Constantius II: 353 to 361 Sole emperor
- Julian: 355 to 361
- Julian: 361 to 363
Non-dynastic (363 to 364)
- Jovian: 363 to 364
Valentinian dynasty (364 to 392)
- Valentinian I: 364 to 375
- Gratian: 367 to 375
- Gratian: 375 to 383
- Valentinian II: 375 to 383
- Magnus Maximus: 383 to 388 Usurper
- Valentinian II: 383 to 392
Non-dynastic (392 to 394)
- Eugenius: 392 to 394
Theodosian dynasty (394 to 455)
- Theodosius I: 394 to 395 Sole emperor
- Honorius: 395 to 423
- Flavius Stilicho: 395 to 408 Power behind the throne
- Constantius III: 421
- Constantine III: 407 to 411 Usurper
- Priscus Attalus: 409 to 410/414 to 415 Usurper
- Jovinus: 411 to 412 Usurper
- Valentinian III: 423 to 455
- Galla Placidia: 423 to 433 Regent
- Aëtius: 433 to 454 Regent
- Joannes: 423 to 425 Usurper
Non-dynastic (455 to 480)
- Petronius Maximus: 455
- Avitus: 455 to 456
- Ricimer: 456 to 472 Power behind the throne
- Majorian: 457 to 461
- Libius Severus: 461 to 465
- Anthemius: 467 to 472
- Olybrius: 472
- Glycerius: 473 to 474
- Julius Nepos: 474 to 480 In exile 475 to 480
- Romulus Augustus: 475 to 476
- Flavius Orestes: 475 to 476 Power behind the throne
Flavius Orestes was killed by revolting Germanic mercenaries. For the alleged son of this emperor also called Postumus see Postumus Junior; for the son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa see Agrippa Postumus Ulpius Cornelius Laelianus was a usurper against Postumus, the emperor of the Gallic Empire. Marcus Aurelius Marius was emperor of the Gallic Empire in 268 Marcus Piav(vonius Victorinus was emperor of the secessionist Gallic Empire from 268 to 270 or 271 following the brief reign of Marius. Domitianus (IMPERATOR CAESAR DOMITIANVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS "Imperator Caesar Domitianus Pious Fortunate Augustus" d Caius Pius Esuvius Tetricus was Emperor of the Gallic Empire ( Imperium Galliarum) from 270/271 to 273 following the murder of Victorinus. Caius Pius Esuvius Tetricus (also seen as Gaius Pius Esuvius Tetricus but better known in English as Tetricus II) was the son of Tetricus I, Emperor Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius (c 250 &ndash c Flavius Valerius Constantius ( March 31 c 250&ndash July 25 306) was an emperor of the Western Roman Empire (305&ndash306 Flavius Valerius Constantius ( March 31 c 250&ndash July 25 306) was an emperor of the Western Roman Empire (305&ndash306 Flavius Valerius Severus (or rarely Severus II) (died 16 September, 307) was a Western Roman Emperor from 306 to 307 Flavius Valerius Severus (or rarely Severus II) (died 16 September, 307) was a Western Roman Emperor from 306 to 307 Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius (c 278 - 28 October 312) was Western Roman Emperor from 306 to 312 Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius (c 250 &ndash c For other Romans of this name see Licinius (gens. Valerius Licinianus Licinius (c Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius (c 278 - 28 October 312) was Western Roman Emperor from 306 to 312 Lucius Domitius Alexander (d ca 311 probably born in Phrygia, was Vicarius of Africa when Emperor Maxentius ordered him to Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine Flavius Claudius Constantinus, known in English as Constantine II, (316 – 340 was Roman Emperor from 337 to 340 Flavius Julius Constans (320-350 was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 337 to 350 Flavius Magnus Magnentius (303– August 11, 353) was a Roman usurper ( January 18, 350 – August 11, 353 Flavius Iulius Constantius, known in English as Constantius II ( 7 August, 317 - November 3, 361) was a Roman Emperor Flavius Claudius Julianus, known also as Julian or Julian the Apostate (331 or 332 to 26 June 363) was Roman Emperor (Caesar Flavius Claudius Julianus, known also as Julian or Julian the Apostate (331 or 332 to 26 June 363) was Roman Emperor (Caesar For other meanings see Jovian (disambiguation. Flavius Iovianus, Anglicized to Jovian, ( 331 - 17 February Flavius Valentinianus, known in English as Valentinian I, ( 321 - November 17, 375) was Roman Emperor from 364 until his death For other figures with this name see Gratian (disambiguation. For other figures with this name see Gratian (disambiguation. Flavius Valentinianus Junior (371 – 15 May 392) known usually by his Anglicised name Valentinian II, was a Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus (ca 335&ndash August 28, 388) also known as Maximianus, was an Hispanic usurper of the Western Roman Empire Flavius Valentinianus Junior (371 – 15 May 392) known usually by his Anglicised name Valentinian II, was a Roman Emperor Flavius Eugenius (died 6 September 394 was a Roman usurper (392-394 against Emperor Theodosius I. Flavius Theodosius (January 11 347 – January 17 395 also called Theodosius I and Theodosius the Great ( Greek: Θεοδόσιος Α΄ Flavius Honorius ( September 9, 384 &ndash August 15, 423) was Roman Emperor (393- 395 and then Western Roman Emperor Flavius Stilicho (occasionally written as Stilico) (ca 359 &ndash August 22, 408) was a high-ranking general ( Magister militum The phrase power behind the throne refers to a person or group that informally exercises the real power of an office Flavius Constantius (died 2 September 421) whose name is traditionally Anglicized as Constantius III, was a late Roman general politician Constantine III (died 411 by September 18) was a Roman general who declared himself Western Roman Emperor in 407 abdicating in 411 (and being killed Priscus Attalus (d after 416 was twice Roman usurper (in 409 and in 414 against Emperor Honorius, with Visigothic support Jovinus is a Roman Cognomen, most often used for a 5th century Roman usurper emperor Flavius Placidius Valentinianus ( July 2, 419 &ndash March 16, 455) known in English as Valentinian III, was among the last Aelia Galla Placidia (392 – November 27, 450) was the Empress consort of Constantius III, Western Roman Emperor. Aëtius is also the name of several other persons Flavius Aëtius or simply Aëtius, (c Joannes or Ioannes was a Roman usurper (423-425 against Valentinian III. Flavius Anicius Petronius Maximus (c 396 - May 31 455) was a Roman aristocrat and briefly Western Roman Emperor with the designation This article is about the Roman Emperor For the poet see Avitus of Vienne. Ricimer (c 405 &ndash August 18, 472) (ˈrikimer was a Germanic general who was master of the Western Roman Empire during part of the fifth century Iulius Valerius Maiorianus (November 420 - 7 August 461) commonly known as Majorian, was Western Roman Emperor (457 Libius Severus was a Western Roman Emperor, 461&ndash465 Ricimer elevated Libius Severus of Lucanian origin to the rank of emperor after the See Anthemius of Tralles for an architect of Hagia Sophia. For the Praetorian prefect and grandfather of the Emperor see Anthemius (praetorian prefect Flavius Anicius Olybrius, Western Roman Emperor with the designation and name Dominus Noster Flavius Anicius Olybrius Augustus from March 23 or July Glycerius (c 420 - after 480 was one of the last of the Western Roman Emperors (reigned 473-474 and later served as a bishop in the early Catholic Church Julius Nepos (c 430–480 was a Western Roman Emperor (474–475 or –480 during the last stage of the Western Roman Empire. Romulus Augustus (c 461/463 &ndash after 476 sometimes known as Romulus Augustulus ( Little Augustus) was the last Western Roman Emperor reigning from Orestes (died August 28 476 was a Roman politician who was briefly in control of the Western Roman Empire in 475&ndash6 A mercenary is a person who takes part in an armed conflict who is not a national or a party to the conflict and is "motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by Their chieftain, Odoacer, assumed control of Italy as a de jure representative of Julius Nepos and Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno. Odoacer (435–493 also known as Odovacar (from the Germanic Audawakrs, meaning "watchful of wealth" was a Roman general and the This is a list of the Emperors of the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly known as the Byzantine Empire by modern historians Flavius Zeno, original name Tarasicodissa or Trascalissaeus, Byzantine Emperor ( Circa
See also
Notes
- ^ Taagepera, Rein (1979). The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in "Size and Duration of Empires: Growth-Decline Curves, 600 B.C. to 600 A.D.". Social Science History 3 (3/4): 125. doi:. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document.
References
Sinnigen, W. G. and Boak, A. E. R. , A history of Rome to A. D. 565. Sixth edition. New York/London: Macmillan Publishing Co. , Inc. , 1977
External links
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