Timeline of the Fall of Rome: Western Roman Empire (235–476 AD)

This time period, also known as the Military Anarchy or the Imperial Crisis, started with Severus Alexander's (reigned 222-235) assassination by his own soldiers. Following it, there was nearly a half-century of chaos marked by power struggles between military leaders, unnatural deaths of monarchs, uprisings, plagues, fires, and persecution of Christians.

By defeating his fellow emperor Maxentius (r. 306-312) at the Milvian Bridge in 312, Constantine the Great (r. 280-337) took control of all of Western Europe. Later, Constantine overthrew the Eastern tyrant and established himself as the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. Constantine established Christianity during his rule and founded Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), Turkey, as the Eastern capital of the Roman Empire. (Istanbul), Turkey.

In 376 AD, the Eastern Roman Empire was overwhelmed by a massive influx of Goths crossing the Danube, fleeing the Huns. These Goths, along with additional groups of Alans and Huns, rebelled against the exploitation by corrupt Roman officials who failed to provide effective relief and resettlement. At this critical juncture, Emperor Valens was in Asia with the primary field army, gearing up for a campaign against the Sasanian Empire. The necessary redirection of his forces and logistics would have been time-consuming. Meanwhile, Gratian's forces were preoccupied with Germanic invasions across the Rhine, further complicating the empire's response.

Theodosius I, who reigned from 379 to 395 AD, played a crucial role in temporarily stabilizing the Roman Empire after the tumultuous period following Emperor Valens' death at the Battle of Adrianople in 378 AD. Under his rule, Theodosius managed to restore unity and strengthen the empire's defenses, emphasizing the enforcement of orthodox Christianity. Despite these efforts, the stability he achieved did not endure beyond his reign. After his death in 395 AD, his sons, Arcadius and Honorius, inherited the Eastern and Western parts of the empire, respectively. This partition marked a significant point in Roman history, leading to distinct developmental paths for the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, with the Western Empire facing increasing pressures from barbarian invasions and internal decline, ultimately falling in 476 AD.

As the Western Empire struggled with invasions closer to home, Emperor Honorius informed the cities of Britain that Rome could no longer provide them with defence. This marked the end of nearly 400 years of Roman rule, leaving Britain vulnerable to Saxon, Angle, and Jute migrations. The abandonment was a powerful symbol of Rome’s shrinking reach.

Gaiseric, the king of the Vandals and Alans from 428 to 477 CE, led his people into North Africa, a crucial Roman granary. Beginning their invasion in 429 CE, the Vandals swiftly took over key cities including Hippo Regius, and by 439 CE, they had captured Carthage, turning it into the capital of their burgeoning kingdom. This takeover effectively severed Rome's access to essential grain supplies and established the Vandals as a dominant maritime power in the Mediterranean, severely weakening the Western Roman Empire and altering the region's power dynamics.

The Roman Empire faced significant threats during the mid-5th century, particularly from the Huns, a fierce nomadic tribe from Central Asia. Under the leadership of their formidable king Attila, who reigned from 434 to 453, the Huns terrorized various territories across Europe. Known as the "Scourge of God," Attila led his warriors into the Balkans and even threatened Rome itself. In response to these incursions, the Romans employed a strategy of appeasement. In 452, after Attila's forces had devastated northern Italy and stood poised to attack Rome, the Empire resorted to paying a substantial tribute to the Huns. This payment temporarily staved off further aggression, though Attila's ambitions remained unchecked until his sudden death in 453, which effectively halted the Hunnic threat to Rome.

In 455 CE, the Vandals, led by King Genseric, raided Rome for the fourth time. This event marked yet another chapter in the tumultuous decline of the Western Roman Empire. However, unlike previous sacks where significant destruction and chaos ensued, this raid resulted in relatively little damage to the city's infrastructure or its inhabitants. This was largely due to the intervention of Pope Leo I, who successfully negotiated with Genseric. The Pope's diplomatic efforts spared many of the city's sacred buildings and civilian lives. The Vandals, having established a kingdom in northern Africa, were permitted to plunder the city's wealth, but the agreement with Leo I prevented widespread destruction and loss of life, illustrating the significant role of the Church in mediating political conflicts during this era.

The Germanic general Ricimer, effectively the power behind the Western throne, sacked Rome again in 472. The city was devastated by yet another round of looting, symbolising the Empire’s complete political breakdown. Within four years, Romulus Augustulus would be deposed.