5th Century

The 5th century is the period from 401 to 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in Anno Domini , the year of our Lord. Overview The Western Roman Empire is ruled by a succession of weak emperors, and true power falls increasingly into the hands of powerful generals. Internal instability and pressing military problems caused by foreign invaders finally result in the sacking of Rome by a Visigoth army in 410. Some recovery is made in the following decades, but the Western Empire receives a serious blow when another barbarian group, the Vandals occupy Carthage, capital of the extremely important province of Africa. Attempts to retake the province are interrupted by the invasions of the Huns under Atilla. After Atilla's final defeat and death both Eastern and Western empires join forces for a final assault on Vandal North Africa, but it is a spectacular failure. In 476 the last Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus (nicknamed Augustulus "Little Augustus") is deposed by a Ostrogothic, ex-Roman foederati. The Eastern Roman Empire ceases trying to prop up its hopeless Western twin, whose former lands are then divided into numerous barbarian kingdoms. The Fall of the Roman Empire The year 476 is widely understood as the point at which the Roman Empire came to an end. Roman power continued in the east however, under the rulers of Constantinople. Scholars normally refer to their empire as the Byzantine Empire, however its inhabitants considered themselves Roman throughout. Recognizable Roman culture continued to exist in the east for another 200 years before the Arab invasions of the 7th Century set off a chain of events that forever changed the face of the Eastern Roman Empire, and the entity that emerged in the next few centuries is what one might refer to as the true Medieval Byzantine Empire. Events 399–412: The Chinese Buddhist monk Faxian sails through the Indian Ocean and travels throughout Sri Lanka and India to gather Buddhist scriptures. 406: The Suevi, Alans, and Vandals cross the frozen Rhine near Mainz, and enter Gaul. This marks the collapse of the Roman frontier in the West. 407: Constantine III leads many of the Roman military units from Britain to Gaul, occupying Arles (Arelate). This is generally seen as Rome's withdrawal from Britain. 410: Rome sacked by Visigoths, Augustine of Hippo writes The City of God 439: Vandals conquer Carthage At some point after 440, the Anglo-Saxons settle in Great Britain. The traditional story is that they were invited there by Vortigern. 451: Huns under Attila facing the Ancient Rome and the Visigoths are defeated in the Battle of Chalons. Roberts, J: "History of the World.". Penguin, 1994. 452: Pope Leo I allegedly meets personally with Attila the Hun and convinces him not to sack Rome. 455: Vandals sack Rome 455: Chichen Itza of Mexico founded 476, August 28: Deposition of Romulus Augustulus by Odoacer: traditional date for the Fall of Rome in the West. 480: Death of Julius Nepos in Dalmatia, the last de jure Western Roman Emperor. 481: Clovis I becomes king of the Western Franks upon the death of Childeric I 490: Approximate date of the Battle of Mount Badon. According to legend, British forces led by King Arthur defeated the invading Saxons. 493: Theodoric the Ostrogoth ousts Odoacer to become king of Italy. 494: Northern Gaul is united under Frankish King Clovis I, founder of the Merovingian dynasty. Buddhism reaches Myanmar and Indonesia. African and Indonesian settlers reach Madagascar. Hopewell culture ends. Significant persons Agatharcos — Greek artist Flavius Aëtius, last of the great Roman generals Alaric I, king of the Visigoths that sacked Rome Aspar, Eastern Roman general and politician Attila the Hun Augustine of Hippo, bishop, theologian Bodhidharma, founder of Zen Buddhism John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople Clovis, first Frankish king to unite all the Frankish peoples Cyril of Alexandria, Patriarch of Alexandria Faxian, Chinese Buddhist monk Geiseric, Vandal king and founder of the Vandal kingdom in North Africa Hawaiiloa, discovered and settled Hawaii Huiyuan, Chinese Buddhist Hypatia of Alexandria, woman philosopher St. Jerome hermit, cleric, Bible translator Pope Leo I Ricimer, Western Roman general, politician and ruler Saint Mesrob, Armenian monk Niall Noigiallach, founder of one of Ireland's greatest dynasties. St. Patrick, completed the conversion to Christianity in Ireland Socrates Scholasticus, Byzantine Church historian Sozomen, Christian church historian Theoderic the Great, Ostrogothic king Zu Chongzhi, Chinese astronomer and mathematician Inventions, discoveries, introductions stirrup invented in China Horse collar invented in China heavy plow in use in Slavic lands metal horseshoes become common in Gaul Anglo-Saxon Futhorc alphabet used in England Armenian alphabet created by Saint Mesrob c. 405 References Decades and Years