What Led to the Fall of Western Rome After almost 500 years as the world’s greatest empire, Western Rome collapsed around 476 A.D. Historians say there are hundreds of different factors which caused such a vast and glorious empire to fall. From immense taxing to military failures and natural disasters the possibilities are endless. Military failures most likely did play a key role in Western Rome’s collapse. While fighting Germanic tribes was nothing new for the Romans in the 300s more barbarian groups (such as the Goths) had come into Roman territory. Around 410 A.D., a Visigoth king by the name of Alaric took over the city of Rome. Then in 455 A.D., the Vandals raided the once beautiful city. The final blow was struck in 476 A.D., when