What is Alaric I?
[[File:AlaricTheGoth.jpg|thumb|right|350px|{{Center|An 1894 [[photogravure]] of Alaric I from a painting by [[Ludwig Thiersch]]}}]] '''Alaric I''', also '''Alaricus''', (reigned 394–410 AD) was a [[leader]] of the [[Visigoths]].<ref>John Middleton, ''World Monarchies and Dynasties'', Volume 1–3 (London; New York: Routledge, 2015), p. 995</ref> He is [[wikt:famous|famous]] as the [[Gothic]] leader who [[Invasion|sacked]] the [[city]] of [[Rome]] in 410 [[AD]].<ref>Stan Russo, ''The 50 Most Significant Individuals in Recorded History'' (Madison, WI: Inklings Press, 2005), p. 24</ref> Very little about his family is known. As a young man he received much of his [[military training]] in the [[Roman army]]. He next appears as a [[war]] leader of Gothic forces fighting along with Roman troops at the [[Battle of the Frigidus]] in 394.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ancient.eu/Alaric/ |title=Alaric |author=Donald L. Wasson |date=4 September 2014 |publisher=Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> In January 395 the [[emperor]] [[Theodosius I]] died dividing his [[empire]] between his two sons. Alaric [[revolt]]ed and as the leader of the Visigoths he [[attack]]ed parts of the [[Eastern Roman Empire]]. He later attacked the [[Western Roman Empire]]. In 408 he attempted to attack Rome but was [[bribe]]d to leave. He returned two years later, [[wikt:defeat|defeat]]ed and [[Occupied territory|occupied]] the city. He died in 411.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/enemiesrome_gallery_01.shtml |title=Rome's Greatest Enemies Gallery |author=Peter Heather |date=17 February 2011 |publisher=BBC|access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> == Life == Alaric was born on an [[island]] on the [[delta]] of the [[Danube River]].<ref name=Jones142>Arthur A. Jones; Robin Wiseman, ''The Goths: Children of the Storm'' (New York, NY; Bloomington, IN: ¡Universe Inc., 2009), p. 142</ref> He was a member of the [[Nobility|noble]] [[Balti dynasty]] of Visigoths.<ref name=Smith88>''Dictionary