The Fall of Rome to Alaric

The failure of the plans of Attalus greatly displeased the pagans and the Christians of the Arian heresy. The pagans had concluded, from the known leanings and early education of Attalus, that he would openly uphold their superstitions and restore their ancient temples, their festivals, and their altars. The Arians imagined that once his reign was firmly established, Attalus would give them back the supremacy over the churches that they had enjoyed in the reigns of Constantius and Valens. For he had been baptized by Sigesarius, bishop of the Goths, to the great satisfaction of Alaric and the Arian party. [a]

Soon afterward Alaric took up a position among the Alps, about seven and a half miles from Ravenna, and held a conference with the emperor about making peace. Saros, a barbarian by birth and highly skilled in the art of war, had only about three hundred men with him, but all of them loyal and most capable. He distrusted Alaric because of their old hostility, and he reasoned that a treaty between the Romans and the Goths would do him no good. Advancing suddenly with his own troops, he killed some of the barbarians. Driven by rage and fear at this, Alaric turned back, returned to Rome, and took it by treachery. He let each of his followers seize as much of the Romans’ wealth as he could and plunder all the houses. But out of respect for the apostle Peter, he ordered that the large and very spacious church built around his tomb should be a place of sanctuary. This alone kept Rome from being utterly destroyed, and those who were saved there, and they were many, rebuilt the city. [b]