[17] See _Egbert Becomes King of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy_, page 372.




VISIGOTHS PILLAGE ROME

A.D. 410

EDWARD GIBBON

Of the two great historical divisions of the Gothic race the
Visigoths or West Goths were admitted into the Roman Empire in A.D.
376, when they sought protection from the pursuing Huns, and were
transported across the Danube to the Moesian shore. The story of
their gradual progress in civilization and growth in military
power, which at last enabled them to descend with overwhelming
force upon Rome itself, forms one of the romances of history.

From their first reception into Lower Moesia the Visigoths were
subjected to the most contemptuous and oppressive treatment by the
Romans who had admitted them into their domains. At last the
outraged colonists were provoked to revolt, and a stubborn war
ensued, which was ended at Adrianople, August 9, A.D. 378, by the
defeat of the emperor Valens and the destruction of his army,
two-thirds of his soldiers perishing with Valens himself, whose
body was never found.

In 382 a treaty was made which restored peace to the Eastern
Empire, the Visigoths nominally owning the sovereignty of Rome, but