Viggen 95 Report post Posted August 24, 2017 Interesting paper Alaric I (c. 370-410AD), King of the Visigoths, sacked Rome for the second time in over eight centuries of history. Historians suggest that malaria, probably contracted either in Rome or in the Pontine Marshes, was responsible for his sudden death in Cosenza (Calabria) in the autumn of 410AD, where he was allegedly buried in the River Busento. In this article, we aim to examine this hypothesis through a full pathographic reassessment of the most likely cause of Alaric's demise. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26970917 ...should be interesting for late antiquity gurus like @sonic Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
caldrail 152 Report post Posted September 12, 2017 As well intended as it is, I'm always very sceptical of these sort of diagnoses, made on the back of flimsy description or evidence, and some are incredibly exotic. I do accept that malaria is potentially the cause - Rome was increasingly prone to this sort of disease with so much standing water about - the drainage system of Rome is hugely exaggerated. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sonic 42 Report post Posted September 13, 2017 14 hours ago, caldrail said: As well intended as it is, I'm always very sceptical of these sort of diagnoses, made on the back of flimsy description or evidence, and some are incredibly exotic. I do accept that malaria is potentially the cause - Rome was increasingly prone to this sort of disease with so much standing water about - the drainage system of Rome is hugely exaggerated. Agreed. It is usually impossible to even guess at the cause due to the fact that the sources rarely give enough detail, and where they do it is necessary to analyse the description, as sometimes the portrayal of the death has more to do with the writer's personal agenda rather than an attempt to give an accurate account. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
guy 157 Report post Posted September 23, 2017 (edited) Maybe it was the just wrath of God (although I believe Alaric was an Arian Christian). Edited March 16 by guy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lothia 5 Report post Posted November 25, 2017 I always look for cause and effect. Although Alaric was an effective general and commander, once he was in Italy his efforts stagnated. He couldn't storm the walls of Rome, I don't think he wanted to. He couldn't get the emperor to pay his troops. I think maybe his army was losing confidence in him. Then, when someone opens the gates to the city he limits the looting to secular buildings reducing the loot the army could have gotten. Next, Alaric decides he is moving to Africa. Down south he marches his army, gathers a fleet and then the fleet gets destroyed in a storm. Instead of giving up on Africa, he starts gathering more ships. Then, boom! He is dead. I smells pretty suspicious of assassination. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites