The Gothic Onslaught: How a Power Vacuum Unleashed Chaos in the Late Roman Empire

The Fracturing of an Empire

The death of a strong emperor often creates a perilous interregnum, especially when succeeded by an untested ruler. Such was the case in the Roman Empire in 395 AD, when the passing of Emperor Theodosius I left his young and inexperienced sons, Arcadius and Honorius, to rule the Eastern and Western halves of the empire, respectively. This transition of power did not go unnoticed by Rome’s enemies—particularly the Goths, who had long been a thorn in the empire’s side.

By the late 4th century, the Goths had split into two distinct groups: the Visigoths (Western Goths) and the Ostrogoths (Eastern Goths). The Visigoths, led by the cunning and ambitious Alaric, were nominally allies of Rome under a foedus (treaty). However, as was often the case with Rome’s so-called “barbarian” allies, loyalty was fleeting. Alaric, who had once served in the Roman army, saw the empire’s vulnerability as an opportunity. Rather than settling into agricultural life in Thrace as agreed, the Visigoths chose a more lucrative path: raiding.

The Gothic Invasion Begins

Alaric’s strategy was calculated. He avoided the heavily fortified western regions, where the formidable Roman general Stilicho was stationed, and instead targeted the weakened eastern provinces. In the spring of 395, barely three months after Theodosius’s death, the Visigoths surged southward from their settlements along the lower Danube.

Their advance was swift and devastating. Fortresses and towns fell before they could mount a defense. Some historians argue that this was not merely an invasion but part of a larger Völkerwanderung (migration of peoples). Yet, as contemporary accounts suggest, this was no peaceful relocation—it was a violent, all-consuming wave of destruction.

Unlike traditional Roman armies, which consisted solely of soldiers, the Goths traveled as entire communities—men, women, children, and elders. While battles were fought by warriors, the non-combatants were far from passive. Once victory was secured, they eagerly participated in looting and slaughter. The brutality of these raids was often heightened by the involvement of women and children, who, unbound by military discipline, committed atrocities that even seasoned soldiers might hesitate to carry out.

Stilicho’s Desperate Defense

Meanwhile, in the Western Empire, Stilicho—a half-Vandal, half-Roman general—was scrambling to prevent the empire’s collapse. Tasked with defending the Rhine frontier, he was forced to divide his forces when news arrived that the Visigoths had sacked Adrianople (modern-day Edirne), a critical stronghold in the Balkans.

Stilicho, who had been appointed magister militum (supreme commander of the Roman armies), saw himself as the guardian of both halves of the empire. Without waiting for orders from the young and indecisive Emperor Arcadius, he marched east to confront Alaric. The two commanders were not strangers—Alaric had once served under Theodosius alongside Stilicho.

Their first major clash occurred near the Adriatic coast, where Stilicho’s tactical brilliance secured a decisive victory. Alaric, forced to retreat, left behind thousands of dead. Stilicho pursued, intending to crush the Visigoths once and for all, but his plans were thwarted by political intrigue.

The Treachery of Constantinople

Just as Stilicho prepared to deliver the final blow, a messenger arrived with an imperial decree from Arcadius. The order was clear: Stilicho was to return the Eastern troops to Constantinople and withdraw his Western forces. The command was widely believed to be the work of Rufinus, Arcadius’s scheming praetorian prefect, who sought to eliminate Stilicho as a rival.

Furious but bound by duty, Stilicho obeyed. He sent the Eastern troops back under the command of Gainas, a Gothic officer loyal to Rome. The abrupt halt to the campaign gave Alaric the breathing room he desperately needed.

The Fall of Rufinus and the Rise of New Intrigues

The returning Eastern army reached Constantinople in late November 395. During a military parade before the emperor, a group of soldiers suddenly broke ranks and assassinated Rufinus in full view of the court. The murder was executed with such precision that many suspected Stilicho’s involvement—a theory later supported by historians.

With Rufinus dead, power shifted to the palace eunuch Eutropius, who quickly consolidated control. The assassination caused no public outcry—Rufinus had been widely despised for his oppressive taxation and ruthless governance.

Alaric’s Resurgence and the Empire’s Decline

The chaos in Constantinople allowed Alaric to regroup. By the time Stilicho returned to Italy, the Visigoths had already begun ravaging Greece. The empire’s internal divisions—between East and West, between emperors and generals, between bureaucrats and soldiers—had left it vulnerable.

This episode marked the beginning of the end for the Western Roman Empire. Over the next century, Rome would face wave after wave of invasions, culminating in Alaric’s sack of Rome in 410—an event that shocked the ancient world.

Legacy of the 395 Crisis

The events of 395 reveal the fatal weaknesses of the late Roman Empire:

1. Fragmented Leadership – The division between East and West created competing power centers, weakening coordinated defense.
2. Barbarization of the Army – Rome’s reliance on Germanic generals like Stilicho and Gainas underscored its dependence on “barbarian” military talent.
3. Political Instability – Court intrigues often undermined competent commanders, as seen in Stilicho’s recall.
4. The Gothic Question – The Visigoths’ shift from allies to invaders foreshadowed the larger migrations that would dismantle the Western Empire.

Today, the crisis of 395 serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of political disunity and shortsighted governance. The fall of Rome was not a single event but a series of missteps—beginning with moments like this, when a power vacuum invited catastrophe.