King Alaric I

Profile

King of the Visigoths. He was a general of the Gothic irregulars under the Roman Emperor Theodosius, and at death of the latter was elected king. In 396 he invaded Greece, and was given the prefecture of Illyricum. He overran Italy in 400, but was forced by Stilicho to retire to Illyricum in 403. On his second invasion, he sacked Rome despite the entreaties of Pope Innocent I, but treated the churches and inhabitants with respect. He married Galla Placida at Narbo in 417, became master of Italy, and was about to invade Africa when he died.

Born

• c.370 on an island in the river Danube

Died

• c.420 at Cosenza, Italy of natural causes

MLA Citation

• “King Alaric I”. New Catholic Dictionary. Saints.SQPN.com. 24 August 2010. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/king-aleric-i/>