Invasions by Visigoths, Vandals, and Huns from "summary" of History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
The invasions by the Visigoths, Vandals, and Huns marked a significant turning point in the history of the Roman Empire. These barbarian tribes, driven by hunger, poverty, and the desire for conquest, descended upon the once-mighty empire like a swarm of locusts, leaving destruction and chaos in their wake. The Visigoths, under the leadership of Alaric, were the first to strike at the heart of the empire. In 410 AD, they sacked the city of Rome, a once impregnable fortress that had stood for centuries as a symbol of Roman power and glory. The sack of Rome sent shockwaves throughout the empire, shattering the illusion of invincibility that had long surrounded the Eternal City. Following in the footsteps of the Visigoths, the Vandals swept down from the north, laying waste to the provinces of Gaul and Spain before crossing the Mediterranean to conquer North Africa. Led by the ruthless king Genseric, the Vandals established a powerful kingdom in Carthage, from which they launched devastating attacks on the heartland of the empire. Meanwhile, the Huns, a fierce and nomadic people from the steppes of Central Asia, descended upon the eastern provinces of the empire with unparall...
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