Julian II (the Apostate) and his policies

[Robert Vermaat]

the purge of 337 killed most of the family off, and child emperors became the root of much evil when, instead of adoption of strong sons, the troops demanded a dynastic line, even though such weaklings like Honorius or Valentinian III became emperor! In the end, these weakling gave rise to strong men behind the throne, Romans, euneuchs then, barbarians later. And what had to follow did of course follow - at one point the powerless figurehead called emperor was sent home to his mommy, and the generalissimo became to first post-Roman king. Exit Western Empire.

Vortigern, you're not attibuting the fall of the West to the aftermath of 337 AD, are you ? Afaik, the army was still in good shape all the way until the battle of Adrianople. So, Valens is where the decline of the empire starts, imo.

Jaime, this was not abbout any military causes, but the political ones - dynastic instability became one of the curses of the Late Roman state, especially during the 5th c. when ther emperor became virtually powerless.

Military I'd say you are right. :wink: