On 24 August 410 AD, the Visigoths led by Alaric, laid siege to Rome, the capital of the Western Roman Empire. The Visigoths had already overrun much of Italy, and the siege was the culmination of a long and devastating campaign.
Within the walls, there were about 150,000 Roman citizens and probably a similar number of refugees from the surrounding area. The city defenses were in a state of decay and undermanned. The only viable plan was to hold out until the emperor Honorius could send relief from his capital at Ravenna. Honorius, however, was unable to raise a force sufficiently strong. Instead, he sent envoys offering to negotiate with Alaric.
The negotiations were not successful. Alaric demanded the enormous ransom of 5,000 pounds of gold, 30,000 pounds of silver, 4,000 silken tunics, 3,000 hides dyed scarlet, and 3,000 pounds of pepper. The Senate initially balked, especially at the demand for 3,000 pounds of pepper. However, they realized the futility of resistance, and were forced to meet the Gothic king's demands.
To raise the ransom, pagan statues and artifacts were melted down for bullion, and the wealth of the city's churches and temples was confiscated. After some delay, the ransom was paid over to the Visigoths. However, despite the payment, the Visigoths did not lift the siege. Instead, they decided to plunder the city.
The Visigoths began the sack of Rome on 24 August, 410, a date still infamous in historical consciousness. Although Alaric had given explicit orders that the Christian holy sites were not to be violated, the soldiers ignored these orders. There was wide scale theft and destruction. Christian churches were desecrated, and many works of art were either damaged or stolen.
The sack of Rome marked a turning point in the history of the Western Roman Empire. It was a major blow to Roman prestige and confidence, and it accelerated the decline of the empire. The city Rome would recover its status as a cultural center, and would serve as the imperial capital of a restored Roman Empire some six centuries later.
Additional Details:
* Alaric's forces are often estimated at approximately 40,000 men.
* According to contemporary chronicler Zosimus, the sack lasted for three days, but other claim that it lasted as long as one week.
* Despite the damage inflicted on the city, the Visigoth sack was not as thorough or destructive as often portrayed.
* Most of the buildings and structures in the city were left standing.