Visigoths Invade Northern Italy

Date: November 18, 401 • Location: Airolo, Switzerland

This milestone marked the outbreak and beginning of this historic period, which spanned 401–410.

The Visigoths, led by king Alaric I, cross the Alps and invade northern Italy.

The Visigoths were a Gothic people who emerged in the Balkans during late antiquity. Probably descended from the Thervingi who entered the Roman Empire in 376 and defeated the Romans at the Battle of Adrianople (378), they were first united under Alaric I (395–410), whose forces alternately fought and allied with Rome before famously sacking the city in 410.