Lost Treasure: Alaric’s Looted Treasures of Rome

Is One of the Greatest Hoards Known to History Laying at the Bottom of an Italian River?

The Sack of Rome on August 24, 410, is one of the most significant events in world history. It was the first time that the “eternal city” had fallen in 800 years, and many mark the event as the beginning of the end for an already beleaguered Western Roman Empire. While the city by that point was no longer the capital of the empire, nor even the city it had once been, it still held immense symbolism throughout the world as one of the centres of civilisation. Into this civilisation came the fury of the Visigoths and King Alaric.

The Germanic tribes had been increasing in power for over 400 years, with their technology and abilities increasing exponentially following their first contact with the Roman Empire. The Goths had been raiding the empire for nearly 200 years by the time of Rome’s sacking, and after the failed Gothic rebellion, the Eastern Roman Empire seemingly forced a peace in 382. In return for this peace, the Visigoths were allowed to remain autonomous, yet were expected to provide military service. A new king, Alaric, had other ideas.