Alaric was a king of the Visigoths. He was born in 370 and died in 410. He is first mentioned in history in 394,when Theodosius the Great gave him the command of his Gothic auxiliaries. The dissensions between Arcadius and Honorius, the sons of Theodosius, inspired Alaric with the intention of attacking the Roman empire. In 396 he ravaged Greece, from which he was driven by the Roman general Stilicho, but made a masterly retreat to Illyria, of which Arcadius, frightened at his successes, appointed him governor. In 400 he invaded Italy, but was defeated by Stilicho at Pollentia in 403, and induced to transfer his services from Arcadius to Honorius on condition of receiving 4000 lbs. of gold. Honorius having failed to fulfil this condition, Alaric made a second invasion of Italy, during which he besiegedRome thrice. The first time in 408 the city was saved by paying a heavy ransom; the second in 409 it capitulated, and Honorius was deposed, but shortly afterwards restored. His sanction of a treacherous attack on the forces of Alaric brought about the third siege, and the city was taken on the 24th August, 410, and sacked for six days, Alaric, however, doing everything in his power to restrain the violence of his followers. He quitted Rome with the intention of reducing Sicily and Africa, but died at Cosenza in 410. Research Alaric
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