Invasion by Barbarian Tribes The most straightfoward reason would be military losses against outside forces. Barbian groups had reached beyond the Empire’s borders. In 410, the Visigoth King Alaric took all the wealth from Rome. The Empire spent the next decades under constant threat. It was raided again in 455 and in 476, the Germanic leader Odoacer staged a revolt and deposed the emperor. No Roman emperor would ever rule from a post in Italy. Overexpansion and Military Overspending With such a vast amount of territory to
