The Decline of the Roman Empire: this timelines purpose is to show events which caused the decline of the Roman Empire. It begins with the Crisis of the Third Age, which is typically regarded as the beginning of the downfall of the Empire.

Crisis of the Third Century (The Age of Chaos)

Period: 235 to 284

The Crisis of the Third Century, also known as Military Anarchy, or the Imperial Crisis was a period in which the Roman Empire nearly collapsed under the combined pressures of invasion, civil war, plague, and economic depression. The crisis began with the assassination of Emperor Severus Alexander, by his own troops in 235; initiating a 50 year period during which there were at least 26 claimants to the title of emperor, mostly by prominent Roman army Generals who assumed Imperial Power.

The Roman Empire is split into the Eastern and Western Roman Empires

285

By 285 CE the Roman Empire had grown so vast that it was no longer feasible to govern all of its provinces from the central seat of Rome. The Emperor Diocletian divided the empire into halves, with the Eastern empire governed out of Byzantium (later Constantinople) and the Western Empire governed from Rome.

Tetrarchy

Period: 285 to 305

Diocletian splits the Roman Empire in 2 and adds junior emperors, so there are 4 Caesars. When Diocletian and Maximian abdicate, there is civil war.

Acceptance of Christianity (Milvian Bridge)

312

In 312, Constantine defeats his co-emperor at the Milvian Bridge and becomes the sole ruler in the West. Constantine claimed to have seen a vision of a Cross in the sky prior to the night of the battle. Taking this as an omen that Constantine would conquer under the sign of Christ, he ordered that the symbol be delineated on the shields of his soldiers. After his success during the battle, he attributed it all to Christ, and Christianity became accepted throughout the Empire.

Death of Constantine

337

In 337 AD Constantine died. This resulted in a civil war over the succession until Theodosius I took Constantine's place. The same problems continued in the empire and had a great impact in the western half. Theodosius ruled that the empire be split in two upon his death.

Fall of Official Paganism

Period: 360 to 363

Julian the Apostate attempts to reverse the religious trend in the empire towards Christianity. He fails and dies in the East fighting the Parthians.

Eastern Roman Emperor Valens defeated at the Battle of Adrianople

378

In one of the most decisive battles in history, an incredibly large Roman army under Valens, the Roman emperor of the East; was defeated by the Visigoths. Two thirds of the Roman army, including Emperor Valens, were overrun and slaughtered by the mounted barbarians. While the details are not known with any certainty, it is thought that the Emperor was killed either towards the end of the battle or was wounded, and escaped to a nearby farm, where he was burned to death by Gothic Marauders.

Death of Theodosius I

395

In 395, after winning two destructive civil wars, Theodosius I died, leaving a collapsing field army and the Empire, still plagued by Goths, divided between his two incapable sons. This marks the official split of the Roman Empire. From here on, historians refer to Eastern Rome, as the Byzantine Empire.

Alaric of The Visigoths sack Rome

410

The gates of Rome were opened up by slaves allowing the Visigoth forces to be the first successful force to sack Rome in 800 years. The Visigoths went in and looted the city, damaging many buildings and even ransacking the tombs of the previous Emperors.

Vandals Sack North Africa

Period: 429 to 435

The Vandals, under Gaiseric, attack northern Africa, cutting off Roman Grain supply. These food shortages really hurt the empires citizens, as well as decreasing their military strength.

The Romans Unite with the Visigoths to stop the Huns in Gaul during the Battle of Châlons

451

The battle of Châlons is often described as a critical moment in the history of the Western world in that it saw the old Rome and the new Gothic people, both settled cultures, defeat the raiding nomads of Central Asia, thereby saving Europe from Hunnic domination. Atilla was determined however, and turned towards Italy to continue plundering.

Death of Atilla the Hun

453

Attila the Hun dies in 453. His death causes the Huns to withdraw to Eastern Europe, but their absence also opened up the door to nomadic Slavs, Persians, and Avars on the Eastern border. It is thought that he died from esophageal varices caused by heavy drinking; a condition in which dilated veins in the lower part of the esophagus rupture and cause death by hemorrhage.

The sack of 455

455

The sack of 455 was the second of three ancient sacks of Rome; it was conducted by the Vandals, who were at the time, at war with the usurping Western Roman Emperor Petronius Maximus. Upon the Vandal arrival, according to the chronicler Prosper of Aquitaine, Pope Leo I requested that the Visigoths not destroy the ancient city, nor murder its inhabitants. While they mostly kept their promise, some were taken off to be slaves, and the Vandals looted great amounts of treasure from the city.

Fall of the Emperor of Rome

476

The last western emperor, Romulus Augustulus, is deposed by the barbarian general Odoacer who then rules Italy. Romulus is sent into forced retirement in Campania. This marks the official "end" of the Roman Empire.