410 – 420s

Events in the 410s 1

• 410 Sack of Rome by the Visigoths On 24 August 410 AD, Alaric and his Visigoths sack Rome — the first time the city has fallen to a foreign enemy in 800 years, since Brennus and the Gauls in 390 BC. The sack lasts three days. Though restrained by ancient standards (Alaric is a Christian and spares the churches), the psychological shock is immense. Jerome writes from Bethlehem: "My voice is choked, and sobs cut short my dictation. The city which had taken the whole world was itself taken." Augustine begins writing the City of God in response.