CHAPTER II.THE MIGRATIONS OF THE NATIONS

ALTHOUGH MORE NUMEROUS THAN THE invaders, the Roman Provincials were, for various reasons, unable to prevent these invasions. The frontier of the Empire was so extended that the army was no longer able to guard the whole of it, even if it had earnestly desired to do so. Having been deprived of a share in the government, the Provincials had lost their patriotism and warlike spirit, and no longer took an intelligent and enthusiastic interest in the affairs of state. They were cringing and spiritless, and in personal prowess no match for the Germans.

The causes of the migrations were often complex. Hunger, whether caused by the failure of crops, the rapid increase of population, or the devastations of war, sometimes compelled a tribe to seek a better location. The Germans knew something of the more favorable conditions of life in the south, and coveted the lands and property of the Romans. Occasionally a tribe was driven from its home by a more powerful invader.

During the second century of our era the Goths left their home on the Vistula, moved slowly to the south, and settled in two groups on the Danube and the Black Sea. These groups, from their relative positions, came to be known as the East Goths and West Goths. During the next hundred years they made frequent invasions into the territory of the Empire, sacking many towns in Asia Minor and in the Balkan Peninsula, and carrying off much booty. In 262 a.d. they burnt the temple of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus. Several Emperors were compelled to fight them; Constantine finally put an end to their incursions, and succeeded in establishing peaceful relations with them. Under the influence of the Empire they took the first steps in civilization. They had commerce with the Romans, from whom they learned a system of weights and measures, and coinage. They became familiar with the Roman modes of life, dress, and customs. From Christian prisoners, merchants, exiles, and missionaries, they learned something of Christianity. A Gothic bishop from the Crimea was present at the Council of Nicaea (325). Ulfilas (311-81) was their most noted missionary. Of Gothic parentage, he spent several years at Constantinople, where he became a Christian of the Arian type. About 340, having reached the canonical age, he was ordained as a missionary bishop to the Goths. In order that the Goths might understand the Bible when read in the church services, he translated it into Gothic, having invented an alphabet for that purpose. After laboring with considerable success for a few years among the West Goths, he and his followers were persecuted, and, with the consent of the Emperor, they withdrew across the Danube and settled in Moesia. The Christianization of the Goths, however, went steadily forward, till at the coming of the Huns both the East and the West Goths were nominally Christian.

The Gothic nation had been made up of a large number of separate and practically independent tribes (Gaue), each of which had its own leader, called Herzog or duke. Gradually some of these Gau leaders succeeded in uniting under themselves several Gaue and so took the title of king. Such kings made their appearance in the fourth century among both the East and West Goths, and during the period of migrations that followed, the kingship was developed among all the German tribes which moved and settled on Roman soil.

The Huns entered Europe about 372, and, after conquering the Slavs and other peoples whom they encountered, attacked the East Goths. Under rival kings the East Goths were broken into two great parties, one of which submitted to the Huns, while the other retreated toward the lower Danube. The West Goths were also divided. One body of them, under Athanarich, retreated into Transylvania, while the other, numbering about 100,000 persons, under Fritigern, obtained permission from the Emperor to cross the Danube and settle on Roman soil. They became foederati of the Empire, retaining their arms, giving hostages, and agreeing to furnish a contingent of troops for the army. In return, they were to receive land and grain. The Roman officials so oppressed them that they were reduced to poverty, and in order to obtain sufficient food they were compelled to part with what was dearest to them, their arms, their wives, and their children. Stung to madness The West by such treatment the West Goths rose in revolt and ravaged the country. One division of the East Goths also crossed the Danube and assisted in the work of devastation. The Emperor Valens met them near Adrianople (378), but his army was routed and he was slain. Finally the Emperors Gratian and Theodosius, by wise concessions, pacified them, and the East Goths quietly withdrew into Pannonia, while the West Goths returned to the territory at first assigned them. At the same time Athanarich was persuaded to bring his West Goths from Transylvania and settle in the Empire, thus reuniting the West Goths again.

Till the death of Theodosius the West Goths kept the peace. They became discontented, however, because they felt that they were losing their nationality and being Romanized; their dependent relation to the Empire was also galling to them. Accordingly, in the year 395, choosing Alaric as their king, they revolted. Alaric was born of one Alaric made of their leading families, and, although favored and honored by the Emperor, in his sympathies and ambitions had remained true to his people. He cherished the idea of national independence and liberty, and wished his people to have a home where, without losing their nationality, they might develop and make progress in civilization.

Alaric led his whole people through Thrace and Macedonia into Greece, devastating the country as he went, though unable to take the walled towns. The army in the west was commanded at this time by a Vandal named Stilicho, a man of the greatest ability. The Emperor was at last compelled to summon him to his aid. He overtook Alaric near Corinth, by skilful manoeuvering drove him into a disadvantageous position, and then offered him an honorable peace. A treaty was made between them, by the terms of which Illyria was ceded to the West Goths and Alaric received the title of duke (398).

Illyria, however, was no better adapted to the national development of the West Goths than were the lands along the Danube. Alaric therefore prepared to move again. He attempted to make a concerted invasion of Italy with the East Goths of Pannonia under their king, Ratger. Their movements, however, were not well timed. Ratger reached Italy in the year 399, but was defeated and driven back. A year later Alaric entered Italy, and after vainly endeavoring to take the Emperor prisoner, was defeated by Stilicho and compelled to withdraw again into Illyria (403). Ratger made another unsuccessful attempt to join Alaric in Italy but was slain, and his great army destroyed, his soldiers either being killed or taken prisoner and sold into slavery.

These invasions of Ratger and Alaric drew the army from the Rhine, leaving that frontier unprotected. The Alani, a non-German people, the Vandals, and the Suevi, finding nothing to oppose them, crossed the Rhine on the ice during the winter of 406-7 and quickly overran the territory of Gaul, taking and sacking many towns. In 409 their advance guard had reached the Pyrenees and crossed into Spain. While Stilicho was engaged in the west with these invaders, Alaric moved his people from Illyria into Noricum and sent ambassadors to Stilicho to say that he would keep the peace if Noricum were given him with four thousand pounds of gold. Stilicho laid the matter before the Emperor and the Senate at Rome, and since resistance was impossible, they acceded to the demands of Alaric.

Stilicho was the only man in the Empire whom Alaric feared. Although a Vandal, he was devoted to the royal family and served the Emperor faithfully. Through the intrigues of certain factions at the court, however, the Emperor was led to believe that Stilicho was a dangerous plotter, and had him seized and put to death. The death of Stilicho was the signal for another revolt (408) of the West Goths. Alaric demanded more money and the cession of Pannonia, and, as his demands were refused, promptly invaded Italy. Twice he besieged Rome, and twice, deceived by the false promises of the Emperor, was induced to raise the siege. But the third time he persisted. On August 23, 410, the city was delivered into his hands by the treachery of Gothic slaves, and was plundered by his troops. They did not greatly damage it, but the world was deeply shocked that its capital should become the spoil of Barbarians.

Alaric then moved to the south and prepared to invade Sicily and Africa. At Rhegium he collected a large fleet, which was destroyed by a storm. The winter coming on, Alaric pitched his camp near Cosenza, intending to renew the invasion the following year. A few days afterward, however, he was seized with the Italian fever, and died Death of after a brief illness. Legend says that his grave was made in the bed of the river Busento by Roman slaves, who were then slain in order that his last resting-place might be unknown, and so be never desecrated. Alaric was probably the greatest of all the German leaders in the period of invasions. He kept alive in his people the idea of a free independent national existence. But for him they would have been assimilated to the people of the Empire.

Alaric was succeeded by his brother-in-law, Athaulf, who and who was in many respects his equal. Athaulf had already fallen in love with Placidia, the sister of the Emperor, who with her mother had been taken prisoner in Rome; and it was probably in part due to her...