Crisis 439 Essay, Research Paper
Vandals take control of Carthage, North Africa ? problematic
as used to feed population of Rome ? test, could Aetius stop fragmentation or
just slow it down, 441, East and West force ready to go, Huns change position
and stops epeidtion. 440 apotheosis of Hunnic power ? Attila and Belda
centralisation and development ? now not just aiding Romans but launch
invasions across the Danube.? RESULTS:
Vandals given richest provinces in Roman Empire, Aetius legislation shows signs
of financia crisis. Direct Hunnic threat not as important a problem of when they
left ? never came close to defeating either half of the Empire out right. Atilla?s death 453 civil war, groups subject to Huns
reassert their independence, by late 460s remnants of Attila?s Huns seeking
asylum in Eastern Empire, collapse Hunnoic power bought final crisis for the
Roman Empire in Western Europe. Hunnic military power could no longer be used to enforce a
blanket policy of military containment towards immigrants already established
in Western Europe.? Could the Romans
face suing the Huns, or afford them NOT USED after Aetius death ? changes
fundamentals of the political game. Players of previous century still exist: eastern Empire,
Roman Armies, senators : after 450 add major autonomous Barbarian group, esp.
Goths and Burgundians and Vandals ? Huns used previously to contain these
groups and urb their political influence ? with Hunnic power gone only choice
was to include some or all of them in western Empire?s body politic ? post 454. Regime of Avitus ? gets backing from Goths first ? regimes
no longer independent of immigrant groups, direct result of the Huns
disappearance.? Immigrant groups want
some kind of oay back ? involvement in government and the empire, Burgundian
Kings take Roman titles Attraction of the empire to Barbarian leaders ? military
might an overall wealth ? rewards given to new allies after 454, money or land
the basis of power, shrunk an already diminishing base ? Gaul, Spain and
Britain away from Imperial control. Too many groups squabbling over shrinking financial base ?
always enough groups in he cold, afer division of spoils, to
prevailing political config, more and more gifts with each leader ?
concentration on internal relations leads to less resources for the defence
from other, increasingly independent and organised tribes ? Franks in the north
for example. Two most successful rulers Majorian 457 ? 62a and Anthemius
467 ? 72 realised either need to reduce number of political players or increase
central resources, thus we see making reconquest Vandal Africa major priority,
wealth from richest lands and reduction if the number of players. Victory would have extended life of the Empire, support from
Gallic aristocracies, – idea of empire grew meaningless as number of groups
grew, Franks more powerful, and resources declined. ? 460s and 470s each group
realising that Empire no longer prize worth fighting for ? Roman state in Western
Europe now an anachronism. Euric Visigoth launches series of wars on Spain as see no
chance Western Empire regaining ground 475 ? Gallo-Romans transfer allegience
toi Euric at same time ? 474 Eastern Empire gives up on the West by signing
peace with Vandals. THREE MAIN POINTS OF HEATHER?S ARGUMENTS 376
and 405-8 points of single crisis, emergence Hunnic power fringes of
Europe, unity and coherence to 35 years of instability along frontiers. 65
yrs to Romulus Augustlus overthrow ? slow working-out political
consequences of invasions, loss territory, los of revenue, loss of power,
landowners see whose really in charge Attila?s
glory no more than a sideshow in the western collapse, other major effect
is disappearance of assistance in 453 ? West bereft of military
assistance. Sacred Rhetoric internal, soial, psychological factors
explaining imperial collapse, balance of power broking by progressive
enfeeblement of Roman frntier power Not monocausal ? were internal problems ? if sufficiently
large and wealthy population would have fended off Hunnic problems ? appearance
barbarian groups within empire opened up pre-existing fault between imperial
centre and Roman and-owning elite ? arrival Barbarian powers undermines
centre?s ability to reward and constrain loyalt. ? local landowners feud new
ways to guarantee elite status.