Chapter IV: Alaric and Honorius

„The Empire’s enemies are mine; I will hunt, find and destroy them.“ – Alaric

The treaty of Bononia, Christmas 401 AD, changed everything in the war for Rome: One month earlier Alaric’s troops defeated Saturninus’ army in the Battle of Verona and captured the Magister Militum. Honorius, now for sure in an awful situation, had several options: allying with Mallius in Gallia, who would claim at least a part of the Empire for himself, maybe even everything; allying with Gildo, who is on the other hand totally unpredictable and no one knows what he is really fighting for - the magister militum position, emperorship, independence, revenge, nobody can tell - ; or allying with Alaric, who showed to be a talented but very ambitious general and would demand land for his soldiers.

In the end Honorius decide to ally with Alaric and to agree on his demands: the King would become Magister Militum, the Goths would be settled between Ligara and Garunna (mostly the provinces Aquitania I and II), the Hasdingi would settle north of them around Lutetia and Senones. In exchange for this Alaric would march against Mallius and Gildo.

Godigisel and Gainas began in the name of Honorius’ their campaign against Gildo’s troops in Italia. Even if they now fought for the Empire, so were they nevertheless plundering all the way to the south and camped symbolically near the city of Rome to provoke the Romans and to remind them, who is now in power. At Easter 402 AD, while waiting for the African troops to challenge the Hasdingi in an open battle, Gainas and some of his soldiers entered the Rome to celebrate the Holy (Arian) Mass in Rome. That was the last straw to convince the population and the senate, that these barbarians were not only scornful and disrespectful but a threat for the Empire, its culture and tradition. After Gainas left the city again and the Hasdingi moved further to the south east in the hope to be able to challenge the Africans there, the Senate decided to side with Honorius’ enemies.

In the meantime, Alaric marched into Gallia and Mallius flew to the south into Hispania. The Goth king took Vienna without battle, secured the Pyrenees passes and decided to move to the north and destroy the Germanic military backbone of Mallius, namely Sigiric’s troops, before turning to the south to finally end the usurpation.

Honorius’ decision to trust in Alaric as an ally affected all participants of the war. Arcadius lost control over his young brother and East and West can now not anymore trust on each other’s help in the future. Hasding King Godigisel blames Gainas for the loss of Rome to Gildo and cracks show between both; Gainas builds the young Geiserich up to be next king, while Godigisel prefers his older son Gunderic. Gainas made himself unpopular with the Hasding leader but the soldiers seem to favour him more than their own king; Godigisel sinks into powerlessness, whereas Gainas becomes the real ruler. In Hispania Mallius meets with one of Gildo’s legates; who informs him that Africa is now on his side. Britannia breaks away from the Empire as Alaric demands - in a very rude manner -that their troops should fight in Gallia.  The island is now ruled by Emperor/Usurper Constantinus, who prefers to stay their instead of fighting on the tumultuous mainland. Lacking the Britannian troops Alaric is unable to decide the war in Gallia in his favour but has to fight a long and exhausting campaign against Sigiric. The remaining Italian forces couldn’t stop parts of the Alemannians to break through the Alpine passes and plunder several cities. Honorius relocated the court to the freshly conquered but far saver Arelate. Here on the bank of the Rhodanus, the Emperor can do nothing but wait for Alaric to win or to fall and he would follow him.

Map 

The Western and parts of the Eastern Roman Empire in 403 AD.

Red=Western Empire; Light Red Outline=Planned Gothland

Purple=Eastern Empire
Green=Mallius Theodorus' Empire; Light Green-Striped=Sigiric's army
Magenta=Britannian Empire