Alaric I

Alaric I, also Alaricus, (reigned 394–410 AD) was a leader of the Visigoths.^[1] He is famous as the Gothic leader who sacked the city of Rome in 410 AD.^[2] Very little about his family is known. As a young man he received much of his military training in the Roman army. He next appears as a war leader of Gothic forces fighting along with Roman troops at the Battle of the Frigidus in 394.^[3] In January 395 the emperor Theodosius I died dividing his empire between his two sons. Alaric revolted and as the leader of the Visigoths he attacked parts of the Eastern Roman Empire. He later attacked the Western Roman Empire. In 408 he attempted to attack Rome but was bribed to leave. He returned two years later, defeated and occupied the city. He died in 411.^[4]

1. ↑ John Middleton, World Monarchies and Dynasties, Volume 1–3 (London; New York: Routledge, 2015), p. 995
2. ↑ Stan Russo, The 50 Most Significant Individuals in Recorded History (Madison, WI: Inklings Press, 2005), p. 24
3. ↑ Donald L. Wasson (4 September 2014). "Alaric". Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
4. ↑ Peter Heather (17 February 2011). "Rome's Greatest Enemies Gallery". BBC. Retrieved 15 January 2016.