History/Medieval Studies 303

Syllabus 

Readings: 
 Book List  
 Iconoclasm 
 Discussion Topics 

Chronologies: 
 Imperial Crisis    
 Later Roman Emperors, 306-395   
 Fall of Western Empire   
 Age of Justinian   
 Islamic Caliphs   
 Byzantine Dark Ages     
 Triumph of Christianity    
 Macedonian Resurgence 
 Crusades 
 Restoration and Ottoman Advance   

Handouts: 
 Population  
 Finances under Justinian  
 Byzantium c.850A.D.  

Currency charts:  
   Diocletian and Constantine  
   Justinian and Heraclius  
   Isaurian, Amorian, and Macedonian Ages  
   Comnenian and Palaeogian Ages  

Links 

**Orestes, magister militum, expelled Julius Nepos from Rome, but Julius Nepos "reigned" in exile at Salona in Dalmatia until 480. Thereafter his territory passed to the Eastern Roman Empire. 

***Odovacer, King of the German mercenaries in Italy, deposed Romulus Augustus and informed Zeno that the West no longer needed a separate emperor. Odovacer ruled Italy as Patrician and magister militum until defeated and slain by King Theodoric of the Ostrogoths in 491. 
 

395		Death of THEODOSIUS I (379-395): Accession of ARCADIUS (395-408) in East and HONORIUS (395-421) in West.
		ALARIC & VISIGOTHS invade Thrace: Military Crisis in the East
396		STILICHIO, magister militum of West, intervenes against Alaric in Greece
397		STILICHIO settles Alaric & Visigoths in Epirus (397-400)
		STILICHIO appoints GANIAS magister militum in East
400		Popular Uprising in Constantinople against Goths; Flight and Death of Ganias
		ALARIC and Visigoths migrate to Italy.(400-401)
402		Alaric and Visigoths invade Italy; STILICHIO checks Visigoths (402-406)
		Honorius removes the Western court from Milan to RAVENNA
406		GREAT BARBARIAN INVASION across Rhine; Saxons, Franks & Burgundians overrun northern and eastern Gaul (405-407)
407		Sueves and Alans invade and overrun Spain (407-417)
		Rebel army in Britain declares commander Constantine III (407-411) emperor
408		Death of ARCADIUS; Accession of THEODOSIUS II (408-450) in East
		HONORIUS executes STILICHIO; Collapse of Imperial Defense in Italy
		ALARIC blockades Rome (408-410)
410		Constantine III & field army of Britain invade Gaul
		Collapse of Roman Defenses in Britain (410-435)
		ALARIC & VISIGOTHS SACK ROME; Death of Alaric in southern Italy
411		Athaulf (410-415) leads Visigoths, in alliance with Honorius, into Gaul
		Visigoths settled as federates in Aquitaine (412-417)
413		Burgundians settled as federates at Worms in Rhineland
		Construction of WALLS OF CONSTANTINOPLE (413-418)
418		Accession of King Theoderic I (418-451), King of the Visigoths
421-22		Roman-Persian War
423		Death of HONORIUS: Dynastic Crisis in Western Roman Empire
		Usurper John (423-425) seizes throne at Ravenna
425		VALENTINIAN III (425-455) & mother GALLA PLACIDIA occupy Ravenna
		AETIUS with Hun federates imposes himself as magister militum of the West
427		Revolt of Count Boniface in Africa against authority of Aetius (427-429)
429		VANDALS, Alans, and Sueves under GAISERIC (427-477) invade Africa
433		Accession of ATTILA (433-452) as king of the HUNS
435		Hun mercenaries, on orders of Aetius, destroy Burgundian Kingdom
439		Vandals capture CARTHAGE; Outbreak of Roman-Vandal War (439-441)
441		British Provincials appeal for aid from AETIUS
		ATTILA ravates Illyricum, Moesia, and Thrace (441-443): Crisis in Balkan
442		Valentinian III acknowledges by treaty Vandal rule in Africa
443		ATTILA imposes annual tribute (2,000 pounds of gold) on Theodosius II
		Roman Frontier on Upper and Middle Danube Collapses (443-447)
444		ATTILA murders his brother Bela and seizes sole power of Hun Empire
447		ATTILA imposes new tribute (6,000 pounds of gold) on Theodosius II
		Arrival of Hengest and Horsa, with Jutish mercenaries, in Kent
		Anglo-Saxon Migration to southern and eastern Britain (450-500)
450		Accession of MARCIAN (450-457) in East
		Marcian ends annual tribute to Attila; Empress Honoria appeals to Attila.
451		ATTILA invades Western Roman Empire
		BATTLE OF CHALONS: Aetius and Visigoths check Attila in eastern Gaul
452		ATTILA invades northern Italy and is halted at Po by POPE LEO I
		Retreat and Death of Attila
454		Battle of Nedao: Gepidae and Ostrogoths overthrow Hun Empire
		Valentinian III orders execution of AETIUS
455		Death of VALENTINIAN III: Dynastic Crisis at Ravenna
		Petronius Maximus seizes power in Rome
		GAISERIC and VANDALS SACK ROME
		Visigoths at Tolosa declare Avitus (455-456) Western Roman Empire
456		RICHMER, magister militum, deposes Avitus & emerges as kingmaker in Italy (457-472). Interregnum in West (456-457)
457		Accession of Majorian (457-461) in West rejected by Marcian in East
		Accession of LEO I (457-473) in the East
		Majorian imposes imperial authority over Visigoths, Burgundians, and Sueves
461		Vandals destroy Western fleet in Spanish ports
		RICHMER deposes Majorian & elevates Severus III (461-465) as Western Emperor. Collapse of Western Imperial Authority in Mediterranean
466		King EURIC II (446-484), initiates VISIGOTHIC CONQUEST OF SPAIN
467-472		Anthemius (467-472), supported by eastern army, seizes Western throne
		Civil War in Italy between Anthemius and RICHMER
468		Failure of Joint Expedition of Leo I and Anthemius against the Vandals
473		Death of LEO I and Accession of Leo II (473-474) in East
474		Julius Nepos (474-480), with eastern forces, secures Western throne at Ravenna
		Accession of ZENO (474-491) in East
475		Orestes, magister militum expels Julius Nepos, and elevates his son ROMULUS AUGUSTUS (475-476) as Western Emperor
		Revolt of Basilicus (474-476): Zeno flees Constantinople.
476		ODOACER deposes Romulus Augustus
		ZENO confirms ODOACER as magister militum and patrician
		END OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE
477		Emperor ZENO refuses Burgundian request for new Western emperor