V century
The century V d. C. (fifth century AD) or century V and. c. (fifth century of the Common Era) began on January 1, 401 and ended on December 31, 500. It is also called the "Century of the Barbarians".
On the death of Emperor Theodosius I the Great, his two sons, Honorius and Arcadius, inherited the two halves of the Roman Empire, which was officially divided, both young men showing themselves to be incapable emperors. The western empire begins to suffer problems when, in a massive exodus, barbarian tribes cross the Rhine River and penetrate through Gaul and Hispania. The western empire suffered continuous attacks and uprisings and, in the year 410, Rome itself suffered a sack at the hands of the Visigoths, led by their king Alaric I. After the sack, both empires enjoyed apparent stability, but the western empire suffers another blow when the Vandals take Carthage, the capital of the Roman province of Africa. For its part, the eastern empire has to face a new enemy, unknown to the Romans: the Huns, led by their leader Attila, who attack the eastern empire and, later, the western one, being stopped in the Battle of the Campos Catalaunicos by a coalition of Romans and barbarians, led by Flavio Aecio and Teodorico I. At the death of Attila, the Huns disintegrate, but Rome would suffer a new sack, this time at the hands of King Genseric's vandals, in the year 455. The final agony of Rome would end in the year 476, when the emperor Romulus Augustulus is deposed by a barbarian chief. This year marks the beginning of the Middle Ages; the eastern empire was to survive for almost 1,000 more years. Different barbarian tribes break up in the former territories of the Western Roman Empire.
Relevant events
Different authors consider that the two events that marked this century were the fall of Rome and the destruction of the library of Alexandria, giving rise to the European obscurantism.
- 406: The Germanic tribes cross the river Rhine before the passivity of the Roman Empire of the West; these tribes are disintegrated by Galia and Hispania.
- 407: The self-proclaimed emperor Constantine III abandons the province of Britannia, settling in Arles; leaving it at the mercy of the barbarians.
- 411: The Swedes settle in Gallaecia, where they form a kingdom that will last more than 100 years.
- 412: The king of Alano Ataces conquers Augusta Emérita and establishes it as the capital of his court.
- 425: Vandals plunder Cartago Nova.
- 426: The Vandals plunder Seville.
- 429: The Vandals and Alans led by Genserico cross North Africa.
- 439: Vandals take Carthage and take over Africa, the province of the Roman Empire of the West.
- 440: Angloes, Juths and Saxons settle in the post-Roman Britannia.
- 451: An army formed by Romans and their barbarian allies, led by Flavio Aecio and Theodorico I defeats the army of Atila, composed of Huns and their barbarian allies, in the battle of the Catalaunic Fields.
- 453: Muere Atila. His son Elak inherits his empire, which will not take long to be divided.
- 454: There is the battle of Nedao, where a combined army of gerpids and ostrogotes defeats the Hun army of the son of Atila, Elak.
- 461: A small Vandal fleet completely destroys the Roman fleet in the battle of Cartagena.
- 472: Die Ricimero, ruler de facto of the Western Empire and nicknamed «Maker of Emperors».
- 476: The last emperor of the Roman Empire of the West, Rómulo Augústulo, is deposed by Odoacro, king of the heroes, rising up as king of Italy; officially disappearing the Western Empire.
- 480: Julius Nepote, the last official emperor of the Roman Empire of the West, is murdered.
- 490: The battle of Mount Badon occurs, where a British and Roman army allegedly led by King Arthur rejects an incursion of Saxon and Angloes.
- 493: Theodoric the Great, king of the ostrogods, kills Odoacro and is proclaimed king of Italy.
- 496: The Frank King Clodoveo I overcome the alamanes in the battle of Tolbiac.
Disasters
- 410: The Visigoths of Alarico I plunder Rome before the Passivity of the Emperor Honorius.
- 430: The lake of Ilopango enters the eruption and takes over Mayan cities in the present El Salvador.
- 455: The Vandals of Genserico plunder Rome for the second time in less than 50 years.
Culture and science
- 415/416: The philosopher and scientist Hipatia is murdered at the hands of a mob of Christians.
- 440: The latest historical records mentioned by the Library of Alexandria.
- 455: The city of Chichén Itzá is founded in the present Mexico.
- 461/493: Muere Patricio de Ireland, known for Christianity Ireland.
- The first monastic schools are born.
Relevant people
- Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430): Roman theologian.
- Alarico I (370-410): king of the Visigoths, known for plundering Rome.
- Attila (395-453): King of the Huns, known with the nickname of «The scourge of God».
- Bodhidharma: founder of Zen Buddhism.
- Clodoveo I (466-511): King of the Franks.
- Constantine III: Roman military, self-proclaimed emperor of the Roman Empire of the West.
- Philosophy (368-439): Byzantine historian.
- Flavio Aecio (396-454): last of the great Roman generals.
- Gala Placidia (388/392-450): Empress consort of Rome and queen consort of the Visigoths.
- Genserico (389-477): King of the Vandals, known for taking North Africa and plundering Rome.
- Hipatia (355/370-415/416): philosopher and scientist of Alexandria.
- Jerónimo de Estridón (340-420): Bible translator.
- Leo I the Magnus (390-461): Holy and Pope of Rome.
- Nestorio (386-451): Patriarch of Constantinople and founder of Nestorianism.
- Odoacro (435-493): King of the Heulos, deposed the last Roman emperor.
- Patricio de Ireland: preacher, introduced Christianity in Ireland.
- Pelagio: monk and reformist britano.
- Ricimer (405-472): Ruler de facto of the Roman Empire of the West.
- Rhomulus Augus (461/462-476): the last emperor of the Roman Empire of the West.
- Theodoric the Great (454-526): king of the ostrogotes, founder of the ostrogod kingdom.
- Zu Chongzhi (429-500): Chinese astronomer and mathematician.