At the very beginning of 395, the division of the Roman Empire took place. This event became crucial in the history of European civilization and predetermined its development for many centuries to come. This article will tell you how the Roman Empire collapsed into Western and Eastern.
Backstory
In historical science, it is generally accepted that the Roman Empire arose in 27 BC. e., when the republican form of government was replaced by the principate, and the first emperor, Octavian Augustus, came to power.
After a brief heyday, by the 3rd century AD, signs of decline were visible. First of all, this was due to the degradation of the military-political elite. In the "muddy waters" many of its representatives began to "fish", hoping to take a higher position. As a result, the empire began to be shaken by civil and internecine wars, as well as regular barbarian raids.
To top it off, the economic situation has worsened. The Roman Empire was no longer able to wage wars of conquest that provided an influx of gold and slaves. The peoples who had previously silently paid tribute began to refuseobey, and Rome no longer had the strength to suppress their speeches. In addition, in Eastern and Central Europe, his legions began to meet the resistance of the ancestors of the ancient Germanic and ancient Slavic tribes. At the same time, armed Scythians and Sarmatians began to penetrate the territory of the empire. Many cities in outlying provinces were reduced to ruins, and in the Middle East, Persia posed a serious threat to Rome.
The situation in the Roman Empire itself
Changes have also taken place in the minds of ordinary Romans. In particular, military service has lost its appeal. Moreover, the native Romans not only did not want to join the army, but tried not to burden themselves with offspring, preferring to live for their own pleasure. Over time, military affairs passed to the barbarians, many of whom subsequently took important posts, and some even ended up on the throne.
Unable to man enough legions of its own citizens, Rome allowed entire tribes of barbarians to settle in the border provinces, as their leaders were sworn to defend its borders.
Religious tensions
By the period under review, traditional pagan cults lost their influence and retreated before Christianity. However, this young religion itself was already divided into several currents, the adherents of which fought among themselves.
The emperors understood that their power needed not only the support of the army and the people, but also the god or gods. They had to choose between Jupiter, Mithra, who was worshiped by the majoritypopulation in the provinces of the Middle East, and Jesus.
Recognition of Christianity as the state religion
According to legend, Constantine the Great, who ruled from 306 to 337, once saw in the sky a cross surrounded by radiance with the inscription: "By this you conquer." He ordered that the banners of his legions, which were victorious, be decorated with this image. This event forced Constantine to believe in Christ and the persecution of adherents of this religion ceased in the empire. In 325, the emperor convened an ecclesiastical council in Nicaea. It adopted the Nicene Creed. For strengthening faith in the Lord Jesus, Constantine was subsequently recognized as a saint.
At the end of the 4th century, Emperor Theodosius recognized the Nicene branch of Christianity as dominant. Persecution began against representatives of the old religions, as well as heretical Christian movements. The new capital of the Roman Empire, the city of Constantinople, became the center for the spread of the new cultural and religious ideology.
The situation in the eastern regions of the state
Historians agree that the victory of Christianity was a step towards the salvation of that part of the empire, which later became known as Byzantium. The new religion had great potential. She mobilized society and helped to strengthen its moral foundations, as she considered fornication, gluttony and worship of the Golden Calf to be sinful. The Church gave comfort to the suffering and fed the poor. Hospitals, hospices and orphanages were opened with donations from the emperor and nobles. In other words, the church tooktake over the functions of the social security system.
Augusts and Caesars
Under the predecessor of Constantine the Great, Diocletian, the tetrarchy system was introduced. She assumed the division of power in the empire between two rulers, the Augusti, who were assisted by the younger co-rulers - the Caesars. This alignment was to prevent the division of the Roman Empire and ensure the continuity of power. Diocletian wished that in the twentieth year of his reign, the Augusti retired, and their place was taken by younger and more energetic Caesars. The latter were to re-select their junior assistants and train them in the art of government.
However, this system of change of power soon led to an internecine war. The winner of it was Constantine, who restored the power of Rome. However, already under the sons of this emperor, internecine war was again unleashed. It was won by Constantius, who was a supporter of Arian Christianity and began to persecute the Nikonians.
Julian's apostasy and division of power
In 361, Constantius died, and Julian, called the Apostate by Christians, ascended the throne of the empire. He was fond of philosophy and had a good education. The new emperor was the husband of the sister of the previous emperor and the nephew of Constantine the Great.
Julian, whose residence was in the city of Constantinople, announced that from now on in his empire they will not be persecuted for religious views. He himself was going to restore paganism on the basis of Neoplatonism, preserving such features of Christianity ascharity and piety. Two years after his accession to the throne, Julian died before he could complete his religious reform.
In 364, Valentinian ascended the throne of the empire. At the request of the army, the new emperor approved his brother Valens as co-ruler, sending him to govern the provinces in the East. Valentinian left the western part of the empire for himself.
Theodosius I the Great
In 378, Valens died in the famous Battle of Adrianople. The position of August was approved by the young commander Theodosius. He was given control over the eastern part of the empire. This ruler proved to be a wise politician and a brave warrior.
His diplomatic achievements include the conclusion of an agreement on the division of spheres of influence with Persia in the long-Christianized Armenia, which at that time was a bone of contention between these great powers.
In addition, Theodosius managed to push back the Goths to the Danube and settle some Arab tribes in Syria as federates of Rome.
Big internecine war
The division of the Roman Empire into western and eastern parts within one state was originally supposed to strengthen its power and facilitate the administration of provinces. However, in 386, turmoil began in Britain. The soldiers proclaimed the commander Maximus emperor, to whose side a part of the German army also went over. Augustus of the Western part of the empire - the son of Theodosius Gratian - was killed. The imperial throne was divided between his half-brother and Maximus. In 387, the latter sent troops into Italy,determined to usurp power. Valentinian turned to Theodosius for help. Their political alliance became especially strong after August's marriage in the eastern part of the empire to Valentinian's sister. During the war with the "Western" Romans in 388, the army led by Theodosius defeated the army of Maximus, and he himself died.
However, this did not bring peace to the empire, since Valentinian was killed by his commander-in-chief Arbogast, who put Eugene, the head of the imperial office, on the throne. In September 394, in the foothills of the Alps, Theodosius defeated the rebel troops. Eugene was killed and Arbogast committed suicide.
So, for the first time in several centuries, the Roman Empire (the years of existence - from 27 BC to 395 AD) was in the power of one emperor.
The division of the Roman Empire
Theodosius the First, nicknamed the Great, single-handedly ruled the state for only a few months. On January 17, 395, the emperor died of dropsy. It is generally accepted that this day is the date of the division of the Roman Empire. Before his death, Theodosius bequeathed the western part of the state with the capital Rome to his youngest son Honorius. The eastern “Rome” went to his firstborn, Flavius Arcadius. Thus began the decline of the main superpower of antiquity. From that moment on, Rome was never under a single leadership, and the gap between the Western and Eastern empires only deepened.
The Fate of the Eternal City
The division of the Roman Empire hastened the decline of the former capital of the world.
In 401, the Goths, who chose Alaric as their leader, moved to Rome. The city defendedguardian of the young Honorius, Stilicho. To defend Rome, he called in the legions from Germany. Although this made it possible to repel the attack on the city, the Germanic tribes, taking advantage of the departure of the legions, broke into Gaul and set its settlements and cities on fire.
Four years later, Stilicho again had to defend Rome, this time from the troops of Radagaisus. However, the merits of this commander were not appreciated by fellow citizens. Moreover, he was accused of treason and killed. In 410, Alaric nevertheless took Rome. This was the first fall of the Eternal City in 800 years.
Further history of the Western Roman Empire
The Hun invasion hastened the end of Rome. Through Gaul began to go tribes fleeing from the nomads. They swept away everything in their path.
The best European diplomat of this period and a brave commander - Flavius Aetius - was able to win the battle in the Catalaunian fields in 451 and stop Attila. However, 3 years later he was killed by order of Emperor Valentinian.
In 455, the Vandals broke into the Eternal City. They hardly knew where Constantinople was located on the map and did not even guess what impression the news of the fall of Rome made on the Byzantines. The vandals practically left no stone unturned in the city, destroying everything that got in their way.
The Western Roman Empire (years of existence - from 395 to 476) fell informally.
It is believed that this happened when the commander Odoacer illegally removed Romulus Augustus from the throne, proclaiming himself king of Italy.
Eastern Roman Empire
After the lossThe eternal city of its influence, Constantinople on the map of the planet has become the most important center of culture, education, as well as the Christian religion.
Although after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, who ruled from 527 to 565, was able to annex part of its former territory to Byzantium, including North Africa, Sardinia, Corsica, the Balearic Islands, and also Italy and southeastern Spain. However, under the reign of his successor Justinian II, all these conquests were lost. The next Byzantine emperor, Tiberius the First, began to pay special attention to strengthening the borders, thereby closing the issue of recreating the great Rome.
After the Slavic, Visigothic, Lombard and Arab conquests, Byzantium began to occupy only the territories of Greece and Asia Minor. The relative strengthening of the empire in the 9th-11th centuries was replaced by a decline caused by the Seljuk invasions in the 11th century. Another blow for Byzantium was the capture of Constantinople in 1204 by the troops of the crusaders. However, Eastern Rome finally fell only in the middle of the 15th century under the onslaught of the Ottoman Turks. During the defense of Constantinople, the last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos Dragash, perished. In the future, the Turks tried to take over the city more than once, and after the construction of the Rumel fortress, its fate was decided. After a long siege in 1453, it fell, becoming the capital of a new state, the great Ottoman Empire. Constantinople on the world map since March 28, 1930 became Istanbul.
Now you know how it happeneddivision of the Roman Empire in 395.
