Gothic Invasions of Greece: What Happened
In the middle of the 3rd century AD, the Roman Empire fell into a deep crisis of civil wars, economic trouble and foreign invasions. Germanic peoples, including the Goths and the Heruli, took advantage of the chaos to launch raids across the Danube and the Black Sea into the Balkans and Greece. Beginning in the 250s, raiding parties sailed across the Black Sea in large fleets, attacking cities along the coasts of Asia Minor and the Aegean. Around 253 to 254 AD, a Gothic force reached as far as Thessaloniki. In response, Greek cities repaired or built new defensive walls, and in the 250s the emperor Valerian ordered the Isthmus of Corinth to be fortified. The raids reached their peak in 267 to 268 AD, when a huge force of Heruli and other Germanic warriors swept through Greece, sacking Athens, Corinth, Argos and Sparta. The invasions shattered the long peace that Roman Greece had enjoyed for centuries. Although the Romans eventually defeated the raiders, Greek cities remained smaller, poorer and more heavily fortified afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Goths invade Greece?
Gothic and other Germanic raiders attacked the Balkans and Greece from the 250s AD, reaching a peak in 267 to 268 AD during a crisis in the Roman Empire.
Who were the Goths and Heruli?
The Goths and Heruli were Germanic peoples living north of the Danube and around the Black Sea. They launched raids by land and by sea into the Roman Empire.
Which Greek cities were attacked?
Raiders reached Thessaloniki around 253 to 254 AD, and in 267 to 268 AD they sacked Athens, Corinth, Argos and Sparta.
How did Greek cities respond to the invasions?
Greek cities repaired or built new defensive walls, and the emperor Valerian ordered the Isthmus of Corinth to be fortified in the 250s.
What was the impact of the Gothic invasions?
The invasions ended centuries of peace in Roman Greece. Cities became smaller, poorer and more heavily fortified in the years that followed.
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