Class 8 Fall of Western Roman Empire

Dr. Ann T. Orlando18 September 2013

Key Historical Events in 4th Century after Constantine

Constantine’s Empire gets divided among his sons; but this only leads to civil war and a weakened Empire

After Constantine, all Emperors except Julian the Apostate (361-363) were Christians

Some of Constantine's successors in 4th C were Arians; sent missionaries to Goths north of Danube (Arian missionary and bishop Wulfila)

Constantinople becomes the most powerful city in the Empire

So Who Was Julian the Apostate? Nephew of Constantine the Great Constantine was succeeded by his sons

Constans, Constantius and Constantine (Julian’s cousins)

Constantius consolidated power through intrigue and murder, including the murder of Julian’s father and older brothers [DCE 24]

Julian as a boy sent to study in Athens may have known Sts. Basil Great and Gregory

Nazianzus there; pretended to be a Christian

After his studies, he commanded Roman troops in Gaul

Julian the Emperor When Constantius died (361), Julian was

named Emperor by Army Tried to reestablish paganism and other non-

Christian forms of religion in Empire Planned to rebuild Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Tried to mimic Church’s charitable structures

in the State Died on campaign in Persia (363)

Julian was succeed by a Christian Emperor, Jovinian

Julian was the last non-Christian ruler in Europe until 1789 and the French Revolution (the Enlightenment)

Julian the Apostate in Deus Caritas Est

A paragraph devoted to Julian, DCE 24; and another mention in DCE 31; and the Encyclical even quotes from one of his letters!!??

The only historical figure who gets more ‘air time’ in DCE than Julian the Apostate, is Karl Marx!!??

Why??

Julian as a Metaphor for Contemporary Church-State Relations

First consider that Julian was an apostate, That is someone who abandoned Christianity; Just as much of the contemporary Western world

He abandoned it because of the hurtful things that those calling themselves Christians had done to him and his family “Emperor Constantius who passed himself off as an outstanding Christian” [DCE 24]

What remained in Julian was a recognition of the importance of the Church's charitable activities

But with Julian, these activities, because they no longer had Christ at their center, became a vehicle to ensure his own political popularity and social stability

General restructuring of society and social welfare systems to ensure political stability was part of the political theories of Karl Marx

Roman-Barbarian Relationships Because it is over-extended, Roman military

tries to enlist barbarian tribes into defense of frontier along Danube, Rhine, and in England

Barbarians get trade Romans get security

Two problems with arrangement Barbarians come ‘peacefully’ into Roman territory

during times of famine or when pushed by other tribes (e.g. Huns)

Romans increasingly think of tribes as auxiliary troops and try to move them around Empire, especially to fight Persians in 4th C

Social Differences Military Structures

Roman Military Structure Very hierarchical Soldiers not allowed to marry until

they retire Germanic Tribes Structure

Very diffuse; gorilla type warfare Families expected to travel with the

‘army’

Classic Battle: Adrianople Between Roman troops under

Emperor Valens and Goths 9 August 378

Roman army is completely destroyed

Valens disappears in the carnage

Most of the 40,000 Roman troops are lost

Often thought to signal ‘beginning of end’ of Roman Empire

Last Western Emperor 479 Last Eastern Roman Emperor

1453 Still studied today by military

historians Artifacts from battle are still

being discovered

http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron/Mediterranean/Adrianople.html

Reaction to Adrianople Ambrose:

“the destruction of the entire globe, the end of the world, the funerals of relatives, the deaths of fellow citizens and above all the violation of holy virgins and widows, which is more bitter than any death.”

“When I heard the result of the engagement I beat my brow, tore my hair and pondered the cause of the disaster”

Basil, “I have heard that all the roads are filled with brigands and deserters

Gregory of Nyssa: “Let us fear afflictions, let us expect dangers; the criminal Goths who are giving birth to a war against us are not far off.”

John Chrysostom reported a prophecy in Constantinople before Valens went to battle that if Valens did not reopen orthodox churches, he would be defeated

“widows of the fallen have no idea what became of their husbands”

Adrianople and Church History Emperor Valens

To resolve infighting among Constantine's successors, empire divided East and West, along Diocletian’s lines

Valens Augustus in East is an Arian Patriarchate of Constantinople staunchly

Arian during his reign After battle Orthodox will claim battle was

God’s wrath on Valens Turning point in balance of political power between

Arians and Orthodox

Theodosius Great (346-395) Out of resulting instability, Western

general, Theodosius, became Emperor in 379

Theodosius was Baptized a Nicene (orthodox) Christian in 380

Called Council of Constantinople in 381 Deeply involved with Ambrose, bishop of

Milan, and Gregory Nazianzus, patriarch of Constantinople

St. Ambrose (340-397) Civil administrator in Northern Italy Milan now military capitol of Western Empire

to counter Goths When orthodox bishop of Milan died in 373,

people acclaimed Ambrose bishop Ambrose tried to flee, but was stopped Baptized, ordained priest, then bishop within a week

Friends with Basil and Gregory Nazianzus Wrote a very influential Duties of Clergy Also wrote many hymns

Ambrose and Theodosius Burning of Jewish synagogue in Callinicum in

Mesopotamia Theodosius wanted Christian community to pay to

rebuild synagogue Ambrose wrote scathing sermon saying not right for

Christians to build synagogues Theodosius backed down

Theodosius massacred people of Thessalonica because they had rioted and killed Roman administrators

Ambrose excommunicated Theodosius Theodosius publicly repented

St. John Chrysostom (349 – 407) Born and educated in Antioch Studied rhetoric with Libanius, famous pagan

philosopher and orator in Antioch Joined Diodore’s school After hiding from those seeking to ordain him, he was

ordained in 386 Acquired sobriquet “Golden Mouth” for his preaching

in Antioch Became Patriarch of Constantinople in 397 Almost immediately ran afoul of both Imperial and

Church politics Political and doctrinal disputes between Alexandria

and Antioch Imperial politics, especially in terms of concern for

the poor Because of political problems, John was exiled (twice)

Legacy of John Chrysostom

Divine Liturgy developed by him commonly used in Orthodox Church

We have more of his works extant than any other Greek Father; 6 volumes in English in NPNF Series 1

John, along with Athanasius, Basil and Gregory Nazianzus is considered one of the Four Doctors of the Greek Church

Reassessment of Triumphalism of Christian History

Constantine’s bloody reign Vicious fighting among heirs Julian Apostate Battle of Adrianople Within 35 years: sack of Rome

(410)

Fall of Rome

Fall of Rome in 410 to Alaric had a huge psychological impact

The Goths sacking Rome were Arian Christians

“My voice sticks in my throat, and as I dictate, sobs choke my utterance. The City which had taken the whole world, was itself taken.” St. Jerome

5th Century Invasions

http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/firsteuro/imgs/map24.html

Key Historical Events 5th Century Increasingly West was under pressure from northern

tribes (Goths, Visigoths, Vandals) who in turn under pressure from Huns

Some of those Goths led by Alaric sacked Rome in 410 Effect of Julian’s apostasy and sack of Rome caused

Christian theologians to rethink the initial triumphal historical view of Constantine: Augustine The City of God

Augustine dies in 430 as Hippo is besieged by Vandals Center of power in Empire is only in Constantinople Attila the Hun reaches Rome in 452, persuaded by

Pope St. Leo the Great not to sack Rome Last Roman emperor in West abdicated in 476

Eastern Roman Emperors Constantine

Council of Nicaea Theodosius I, Great (379-395)

Council of Constantinople Conflicts with Ambrose Last Emperor of East and West

Arcadius (son of Theodosius) and Eudoxia in East (395-408) Conflicts with John Chrysostom

Theodosius II (408-450) Son of Arcadius Council of Ephesus

Pulcharia and Marcion (450-457) Pulcharia daughter of Theodosius II Council of Chalcedon