How Rome's Army Became the Enemy: The Barbarization of Roman Military

Описание: What happens when an empire's army becomes indistinguishable from the invaders it was meant to stop? In 410 CE, Alaric sacked Rome—but he wasn't an outside conqueror. He was a Roman general. This video explores how Rome's recruitment crisis led to the federati system, how barbarian commanders like Stilicho and Alaric held more power than emperors, and why the Roman army didn't lose to barbarians—it became them.

Key concepts covered:
• The Federati System — How Rome hired entire barbarian tribes as allied armies, creating fatal dependency
• The Battle of Adrianople (378 CE) — The shocking defeat that killed Emperor Valens and changed everything
• Barbarian Magistri Militum — How generals like Stilicho and Alaric wielded real power while emperors became figureheads
• The Retreat to Ravenna — Why emperors abandoned Milan to hide in marshes from their own military
• The Invisible Collapse — Rome didn't fall in battle; it transformed from within

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ORIGINAL SOURCE
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This video distills insights from a longer lecture.
Watch the full original:    • 06. Transformation of the Roman Empire  
All credit for the historical content belongs to the original creator.

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About Lecture Distilled
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