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Artwork for The Fall of the Western Roman Empire: What Really Happened

The Fall of the Western Roman Empire: What Really Happened — Fexingo History

Fexingo
Western Roman Empire
Roman Empire
Rome
Vandals
Adrianople
Theodosius I
Visigoths
Diocletian
Majorian
Alaric
Constantine the Great
Carthage
Federati
Geiseric
North Africa
Odoacer
Rome, Italy
Ricimer
Goths
Justinian I

For centuries, the fall of the Western Roman Empire has been blamed on barbarian invasions, moral decay, or administrative collapse. But what really happened? In this show, Lucas and Luna dismantle the myths and explore the full tapestry of factors—from the Crisis of the Third Century and the reforms of Diocletian and Constantine, to the rise of Germanic foederati and the pivotal battles of Adrian... more

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Artwork for The Fall of the Western Roman Empire: What Really Happened

Latest Episodes

In 305 AD, Emperor Diocletian did something unprecedented: he abdicated. Retiring to a massive fortified palace on the Dalmatian coast near modern Split, Croatia, he became the only Roman emperor to voluntarily step down. But why? Plagued by illness,... more

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the final act of the Western Roman Empire: the deposition of Romulus Augustulus in 476 CE. They trace the rise of Odoacer, the barbarian general who became King of Italy, and examine the political and military ... more

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Praetorian Guard's transformation from elite bodyguard to imperial kingmaker. They trace key moments: the guard's founding by Augustus, its role in the assassination of Caligula, the year 69 CE when it auct... more

When we think of the Vandals, we picture sackers of Rome. But their real power came from the sea. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Geiseric built a formidable navy from captured Roman shipyards in Carthage, turning the Vandals into a Medit... more

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the mausoleum of Honorius, the last emperor buried in a dynastic tomb in Rome, revealing how burial practices reflected the empire's political and cultural collapse. They discuss the Mausoleum of Honorius near ... more

In 476 AD, the Western Roman Empire officially ended when the Germanic chieftain Odoacer deposed the boy-emperor Romulus Augustulus. But in northern Gaul, a Roman general named Syagrius continued to rule a Roman rump state — the Kingdom of Soissons —... more

In Episode 101, Lucas and Luna dig into the story of Anthemius, the last Eastern emperor to rule the West, and his failed campaign to reclaim North Africa from the Vandals. They explore his Greek intellectual background, his alliance with the Gothic ... more

In this deep dive, Lucas and Luna explore one of the most ironic mechanisms behind the fall of the Western Roman Empire: the foederati system. Far from a simple story of barbarian invasion, Rome's reliance on allied Germanic tribes for military defen... more

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Lucas
Host of The Fall of the Western Roman Empire: What Really Happened — Fexingo History
Luna
Co-host of The Fall of the Western Roman Empire: What Really Happened — Fexingo History

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What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two historians dissect the late Roman world, arguing that the Western Empire's end was not a single catastrophe but a long transformation shaped by crisis, reform, migration, and shifting power centers. Episodes explore a wide range of factors—from civil wars and economic fragmentation to the rise of foederati, major battles like Adrianople, and the strategic crossing of the Rhine—that together contributed to Rome's political rearrangements and eventual deposition of a child-figure emperor. The discussion consistently challenges common myths, emphasizes nuanced causal webs, and highlights how religion, administration, and imperial diplomacy influenced outcomes. A standout feature is the collaborative, evidence-driven style that weighs prima... more

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this podcast launched 2 months ago and published 109 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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