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4) Military despotism -- While the early Emperors still had to deal with the senate, later Emperors ruled through military strength alone.  Civil wars were common, especially during the age of 30 tyrants when the Empire was in a constant state of internal warfare and chaos.  That the Empire didn't fall during this time is a testament to the ongoing discipline of their legions at that point in their history.

4) Military despotism -- While the early Emperors still had to deal with the senate, later Emperors ruled through military strength alone.  Civil wars were common, especially during the age of 30 tyrants when the Empire was in a constant state of internal warfare and chaos.  That the Empire didn't fall during this time is a testament to the ongoing discipline of their legions at that point in their history.

5) Military advances -- Changes over centuries began to give cavalry a more prominent role than it had previously been capable of.  In other words the Roman legion, the mainstay of Roman power, lost some of its dominance.

5) Military advances -- Changes over centuries began to give cavalry a more prominent role than it had previously been capable of.  In other words the Roman legion, the mainstay of Roman power, lost some of its dominance.

6) The Roman Empire was always in dnager of fall.  [[Spartacus]] and his army of freed slaves came close to overcoming Rome as did [[Hannibal]].  Eventually luck ran out for Rome.  

6) The Roman Empire was always in danger of fall.  [[Spartacus]] and his army of freed slaves came close to overcoming Rome as did [[Hannibal]].  Eventually luck ran out for Rome.  

      

      

From a societal standpoint it has been posited that [[immorality]] and [[homosexuality]] so weakened the spirit of the Empire that it was unable to stand firm against the Barbarians. Certainly poets such as [[Catullus]] and [[Juvenal]] describe many unnatural practices that may well have contributed to the final collapse hundreds of years later.  Well known British writer [[Edward Gibbon]], who wrote the influential ''[[Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire]]'' was an [[advocate]] of this view.  While his book stood the test of time as a masterpiece of Roman history, even being required reading in some American schools for the first half of the 20th century, modern historians seek answers in other areas.

From a societal standpoint it has been posited that immorality so weakened the spirit of the Empire that it was unable to stand firm against the Barbarians. Certainly poets such as [[Catullus]] and [[Juvenal]] describe many unnatural practices that may well have contributed to the final collapse hundreds of years later.  The great British historian [[Edward Gibbon]], who wrote the influential ''Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'' was an advocate of this view.  Modern historians seek answers in other areas.

== The actual "Fall" ==

== The actual "Fall" ==

[[File:Rome-barbarians.jpg|thumb|400px|Barbarian invasions 400-600 AD]]  

[[File:Rome-barbarians2.jpg|thumb|400px|actual barbarian invasions 400-526 AD]]  

 

 

The actual "fall" of the Roman Empire is said to have occurred on September 4th, 476 A.D. when [[Odoacer]], a barbarian part Hun general led a mutiny by most of the barbarian mercenaries in Orestes' army (the master general in Italy, and father of the Emperor who he had placed on the throne the previous year after a coup).  Orestes was defeated at the [[Battle of Pavia]] on August 23rd and captured and killed after a brief siege.  Odoacer deposed [[Romulus Augustulus]] and seized control of Italy.  He did not take the title of Emperor, thus ending 500 years of Roman rule.<ref>Encyclopedia of Military History, Dupuy and Dupuy, p. 171</ref>

The actual "fall" of the Roman Empire is said to have occurred on September 4th, 476 A.D. when [[Odoacer]], a barbarian part Hun general led a mutiny by most of the barbarian mercenaries in Orestes' army (the master general in Italy, and father of the Emperor who he had placed on the throne the previous year after a coup).  Orestes was defeated at the [[Battle of Pavia]] on August 23rd and captured and killed after a brief siege.  Odoacer deposed [[Romulus Augustulus]] and seized control of Italy.  He did not take the title of Emperor, thus ending 500 years of Roman rule.<ref>Encyclopedia of Military History, Dupuy and Dupuy, p. 171</ref>