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The emporor Severus Alexander is murdered by his own soldiers, setting off the Imperial Crisis, 50 years of chaos and fighting for power. The Empire breaks into factions. -
The Roman Empire is in crisis as barbarians invade and the Empire splinters.
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Emperor Aurelian reunites the Empire, but it doesn't last. He is assassinated in 275 B.C. -
Diocletian divides the Empire into Eastern and Western parts, appointing Maximian to be the emperor of the Western side while he ruled the Eastern. -
Power in the Western Empire is handed over to Maxentius and Constantine, who battle each other for power. -
Constantine takes control of the Western Empire after defeating Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. -
Constantine defeats Licinius and Martinian and becomes the sole Roman Emperor, legalizes Christianity and founds the city of Constantinople.
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Constantine founds the city of Constantinople, which becomes an important city and will later be known as Istanbul. It will become the seat of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman empires over the centuries. -
Goths cross the Danube fleeing the Huns, invading the Eastern Empire, followed by additional invasions. The Roman armies are unable to respond effectively. -
The Roman Empire under Emperor Valens is defeated by the Visigoth army led by King Fritigern. Emperor Valens is killed. -
Stability is briefly restored under the reign of Theodosius.
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Theodosius dies in 395, leaving the Empire split into East and West under his sons Arcadius and Honorius. Vandal general Stilicho becomes Honorius' guardian since he is only 11. -
Under the leadership of Alaric, the Visigoths repeatedly attack Rome.
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Arcadius' death leaves the Eastern empire to his son, Theodosius II, who is 7 years old. -
Stilicho is executed because of rumors about his plans to take the throne. This leads to the defection of many barbarian soldiers to Alaric. -
The Visigoths sack the city of Rome, marking the fall of the Western Empire. -
Gaiseric, the king of the Vandals and Alans invades North Africa. -
The Huns invade and attack Italy and the Mediterranean coast.
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The Vandals take over Carthage, cutting off Rome's supply of grain. -
A peace treaty is signed that includes a promise that the daughter of the emperor Valentinian III and the son of King Gaiseric. -
The Roman Empire pays a big tribute to the Huns to stop them from attacking Rome further. -
The death of Attila the Hun on his wedding night in 435 ends the aggression of the Huns towards Rome. -
King Gaiseric and the Vandals take Rome, but Pope Leo is able to prevent destruction of the city by negotiating with them. The popes power becomes greater than the Emperor's, marking another stage of decline. -
Valentinian's successor, Petronius Maximus, violates the peace treaty with the Vandals by marrying his son to Valentinian's daughter. This leads the Vandals to invade. -
German leader Odoacer overthrows the Roman Emperor and effectively ends the rule of the Romans in the West.Ooacer makes himself King of Italy.