All about Alaric

Alaric was a name borne by two kings of the Visigoths, a savage Teutonic (German) people, about 1,500 years ago when the Roman Empire still ruled most of the civilized world, and the Germans, whom the Romans called barbarians, fought them constantly. Alaric I, king of the Visigoths, invaded the Roman Empire several times but was driven out each time by the Roman general, Stilicho. In the year 408, when Stilicho was dead, Alaric surrounded the walled city of Rome and threatened to starve the people to death unless they paid him a ransom.

He withdrew after the city paid him. In the year 410 his victorious army entered Rome and his soldiers robbed it for six days. However, he forbade his men to harm women or destroy religious buildings. A few months later he died and was buried secretly in the bed of the Busento River to prevent the Romans from ever finding his body. Alaric II became king of the Visigoths in 484. He ruled over all of Spain and part of southern France. The wealth of his lands excited the jealousy of Clovis, king of the Franks, a German people who ruled much of France. Clovis killed Alaric II in a battle at Vouille, France, and completely defeated the Visigoth army.