164- The Sack of Rome

After failing to secure a deal with Honorius, Alaric sacked Rome in August of 410. It was the first time the Eternal City had been sacked in 800 years. 

164- The Sack of Rome

Comments

[Tebow]

Alaric must play for the Broncos

[Matthew Mooney]

Just posted a nice top post for this on Craigslist..Kudos Mike

[CA Bennett]

Did you know this this episode isn't on iTunes yet?

[Ryan Leonard]

:(

[Matthew Mooney]

I was able to get it.

[John P]

It kind of boggles the mind that Alaric and Brennus' sacks of Rome were as distant as I am now from the 4th Crusade. You know we can point out all the mistakes the Romans made and the problems they had in their last century but it is incredible the constant pressure they were under from their enemies ever since...about the reign of Marcus Aurelius. And they just kept on coming. But the Western Roman Empire has one last period where it sort of looks like they might make it through after all coming up here it appears. But look how bad things look and the Huns have not even shown up yet.

[Jeremy Bishop]

I think what is saddest about this is that the episode doesn't even end with the sack of Rome. The city is just that superfluous at this point.

[Chris Doyon]

I named my surprise Sol Invictus gift Alaric, the first chihuahua to sack Rome in 800 years. He now shares my household with Odoacer, my Siberian husky. "Odo" as he's usually known is very old now and I fear the auguries are foretelling that the arrival of his namesake in THoR podcast will signal that the end of both is nigh. Thank you for such a fascinating, informative and entertaining podcast. I pray your future may include more, but wish you all the best regardless.

Chris Doyon
Baltimore MD

[Seán Ó Hóireabhárd]

A Chara,

I have been listening to your excellent podcast for a month now. It is hard to believe, but I have enjoyed it so much that I have listened to every single episode up to this in just a month. I was worried you would be finished by the time I caught up, but here we are, in time for the Sack of Rome, the Barbarians at the Gates. I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the valuable service and hard work on your part. As someone who writes history, I understand the depth of work that goes into these episodes, and I think it is very important that such work is appreciated. I hope you will go on to do further historical podcasts when you are finished with Rome, but I won't be so presumptuous as to suggest topics. Go n-éirí an bóthar leat.

Regards from Ireland,

Seán Ó Hóireabhárd.

[Ryan Leonard]

Hey Mike,

I love your podcast. I've listen to every episode multiple times over, the story is fascinating. They don't even get old, there are enough to listen to them in an endless loop of entertainment!

I'm so sad that rome has been sacked, but i've been thinking.

You know how constantinple finally falling supposably triggered the rennasiance? Well, i think of it like this - From the ashes of the roman empire, the fall of constantinople triggered the modern era. So Rome is still around... if any of that makes sense.

Sorry to ramble on, im a 16yr old living in pennsylvania i share your podcast with everyone i know and it's great. If i had any real money i'd donate to you regardless of it ending soon or not.

From Muncy Pennsylvania,

Ryan T. Leonard

[Patrick McCartney]

Finally, I fully understand the fall of the western empire.

I imagine the population in the west is under such fear due to the lack of support. Are the towns beginning to concentrate on their own self defense independent of the legions? Constantine III showed that helping the Empire is a very bad idea, so I am sure all towns in the west are seeing themselves as being on their own.

Is this the time when what we imagine as an early medieval village begins? Or, is there first the full collapse and destruction of the classical towns, which are then re-invented as the medieval village?

[Alexa Lässig]

Does that mean we are nearing the end. Such a sad thought. Your podcast gave me many fun hours. The History of Rome even helped me in my College reports.

Thank You

:-)

[Sandy]

Enjoying the present last gasps of the Western Empire... thanks for keeping it exciting.

Also just finished "Lustrum" by Robert Harris again (available as an audio book on checking), it prompted me to go back through the Episodes of Pompey through to Caesar, Cicero only gets an occasional mention I noted.

These episodes date from January 2009... have I really been listening that long?

[Morlam]

Hi Sandy, if you liked Harris, try 'Imperium' by Mike's fellow Texan and author-historian Steven Saylor. His depiction of the fate of the Pinarii through Claudius to Hadrian brings to mind John Le Carré, Dominitian portrayed very Stalin-like. Highly recommendable. Also, when the West has fallen, there is of course 'The Decline and Fall' by Gibbons unabridged, fabulously read by Bernard Mayes. A great supplement to THoR.

Morten

[Col]

Okay, i am a little confused, I thought Britain was told to look to it's own defenses, not that it decicded to go it alone. is this two different interpertations? Or is the truth somewhere in between?

[Sandy]

Thanks Morten, I'll look out for Steven Saylor

Sean, welcome to the catch up club, we've all done it... I only needed to catch up ~40 episodes

Sandy

[Glenn]

"Good" Galla Placidia. Nice one, Little Richard.

[Michael C]

I think I'm starting to feel a soft spot for the Goths after these last couple episodes.

[David Hill]

Hello all! Finally caught up with you all; it's been a hell of a trek.

Not sure how I'll cope with having to wait for new casts though, I've been spoiled thus far I guess.

Anyhoo, enough waffle, I just thought, now I'm up to speed, I ought to drop in and thank Mike for all this. It's a genuinely amazing accomplishment thus far.

Dave

[Michael Sheehan]

I just got caught up on the previous episode and have been anxiously awaiting this installment. Then I'm going to start the whole thing over!

I have been to Rome 4 times, and Europe 7. Next trip is in September 2012. My great grandfather hailed from Arce in southern Lazio, and we will be staying in the birthplace of Cicero (today known as Arpino, Arpium back in the day).

On my first trip, back in '98, I had no context for the ruins I was seeing. Every trip has been educational, but nothing compares to the education I received from this poscast. I can hardly wait to see it again with new eyes.

[Michael Sheehan]

Arpinum, that is, not Arpium.

[Guilsfield]

My sister and brother in law had the bad taste to Christen my nephew Aleric. Tricky Christening.

Anyway, thanks for this, I can get him to listen to it so his Confirmation classes go with a swing.

Second the suggestion elsewhere about the book of the podcast. Hope this keeps something of freshness and spontaneity of the original.

[Jonathan]

Hi Mike, excuse my little English:

I've been listening to The History of Rome for over two years now, always a couple of months behind you and I manage to keep the distance by starting over each time I catch up with you. Anyway, thank you for putting together this master piece I truly enjoy it. If you ever finish it, I will keep it safe to pass it on to my two years daughter.

But I must say that the sack of Rome of 410 which I recently eared for the first time was a little disappointing. I understand that the city itself wasn't a major player in the geopolitical world by then, but I was expecting this episode for the very beginning, the day Rome was sacked after 800 hundred years! The siege, the famine, the history of cannibalism going on in the city... well.

Keep the hard work, and I wish I could be on one of your History of Rome Tour, I went to Rome in 2006 and I wish I was then half as knowledgeable as I am today.

[Social Documentary]

Super-Duper site! I am loving it!! Will come back again - taking you feeds also, Thanks.