Radagaisus (died 23 August 406) was aGothic king who led an invasion ofRoman Italy in late 405 and the first half of 406.[1][2] A committedpagan,[3] he was executed after being defeated by the generalStilicho.[4][5][6]
Radagaisus's force probably consisted of about 20,000 fighting men.[4] Many of the fighters were accompanied by their families and othernoncombatants, meaning that the total size of Radagaisus's group may have approached 100,000.[4]
Radagaisus, whose early career and ultimate origins are unknown, fleeing Hunnic pressures, invaded Italy without passing through theBalkans, which indicates that his invasion began somewhere on theGreat Hungarian Plain, west of theCarpathian Mountains.[1]Archaeological finds of coin hoards, buried by residents who were apparently aware of Radagaisus's approach, suggest that his route passed through southeasternNoricum and westernPannonia. About this timeFlavia Solva was burned out and largely abandoned andAguntum[7] was devastated by fire. An indeterminate number of refugees fled ahead of his army as it marched over theAlps.[1] It was said by contemporaries thatArian Christians swelled his forces.[8]
TheWestern Roman Empire underStilicho mobilized thirtynumeri (about 15,000 men) from the Italianfield army in response to Radagaisus's invasion.[4][5] A second contingent of Roman troops, possibly recalled from theRhine frontier, complemented the Italian forces.[5] In addition, they received help fromGothicfoederati underSarus andHunnic forces underUldin.[4]Alaric I remained inactive through the whole episode, committed by treaty toIllyricum.[9]
Radagaisus's army had the run of northern Italy for at least six months while the Empire mobilized its forces.[5] They eventually made their way to the bridgehead community ofFlorentia. Theyblockaded the city, where no less than a third of the Goth's troops and allies were killed.[citation needed]
Stilicho's army relieved thesiege of Florentia as the city was approaching the point of surrender. The Roman counterattack was extremely successful, and Radagaisus was forced to retreat into the hills ofFiesole, about 8 km away. There, Radagaisus abandoned his followers and tried to escape, but was captured by the Romans.[5] HistorianPeter Heather hypothesizes that Radagaisus's escape attempt may have been compelled by a revolt within his forces.[10] He was executed on 23 August 406.[1][11] 12,000 of his higher-status fighters were drafted into the Roman army. Some of the remaining followers were dispersed, while so many of the others were sold intoslavery that the slave market briefly collapsed. These Goths later joinedAlaric I in hissack of Rome in 410.[4][5][6]
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