#fallofanempire

Rome 410 A.D.

 I have arrived back in Rome this past year. For the past two years the city has been besieged by foreign invaders, this now being the third time they have come back. Moral between soldier/citizens has grown thin as more soldiers begin abandoning the army due to the empires hiring of barbarian mercenaries. The men see serving in the army as pointless now if a foreigner can take their place instead. For the time being Rome has been the center of the World, but this past decade has seen an increase in attacks from the barbarian’s that have caused the western frontier to almost collapse entirely.  The band of Barbarians have been come to known as the Visigoths who are led by King Alaric. Ironically, Alaric was a mercenary for hire as he was part of the Roman Army at one point in time.  He has been raised by the army and as a result know the methods of attack as well as our weaknesses. There has been rumors around the city that another siege on the city is imminent.

August 24th 410 A.D.

 King Alaric and his men have broken past the cities defense and entered through the Salarian Gates. Those that survived the initial attack states that Alaric was offering up his slaves as a peace treaty who were received by the citizens at the gate. The survivors had states though that once inside the slaves began attacking, which leads me to believe they were Alaric’s soldiers all along. His men have now taken the city and either killed or pushed back most of the Romans defenses and citizens. Surprisingly enough it looks like he has left most of our structures intact. The fate of the city is now in his hands as Alaric negotiates with Emperor Honorius for supplies and gold.

The Sack of Rome by the Barbarians in 410 by Joseph-Noël Sylvestre, 1890