On August 24, exactly 1600 year ago.... the Visigoths sacked Rome

[scheming daemons]

It was the first successful attack on the city in 800 years.

It is generally regarded as the point where the Western Roman Empire died.



Happy Visigoth Sacking Day! (a week late)

[yellowcanine]

1. Hmm. Almost the anniversary of the Glen Beck Hijack the Dream Party.

A coincidence I am sure.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Whereas tomorrow will be the anniversary

of Princess Diana being awarded a Mercedes steering wheel in lieu of a halo.

edit - forgot to recommended for making me smile. Good a as reason as any. I have a feeling this wouldn't have merited an unrec for being one of those who continually kick their own posts for whatever reason.

[whathehell]

5. I'm curious...

What's with "Princess Diana Mercedes steering wheel instead of a halo"?

[dipsydoodle]

10. That is actually the end the joke

concerning Linda McCartney complaining to St Peter about not being awarded the same halo she could see Pricess Diana wearing in the distance. St Peter said "if you look closer you'll see that's a Mercedes steering wheel".

She actually died of terminal stupidity. The rear airbags in a Merc S Class are only deployed when the seat belts are in use. No seats belts done up - no airbags.

[whathehell]

12. Wow.

That's one of the cruelest jokes I've ever heard.


..Guess you weren't a big fan of Diana.:eyes:

[Rebubula]

16. That is the cruelest joke??

You have not been on the Internet very long have you?

[whathehell]

19. Re-read the post..

I said it's ONE of the cruelest jokes I've ever heard....and I've been on the internet about thirteen years -- I guess I just don't veer towards cruelty....Sorry!

[Javaman]

21. Too soon?

ouch.

[whathehell]

23. I'm not sure it's a question of time..

I guess I don't find the image of a young woman, dead with her head dug into a steering wheel "funny".:shrug:


I do wonder who would be laughing if "one of theirs" died that way.

[cleanhippie]

8. Thats pretty good.

Made me chuckle.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

3. Is that date based on the current calendar, or the calendar in place at the time?

If the latter, then I think it's fifteen or so days off by now.

[rocktivity]

4. Exactly 1600 years ago, a fashion trend was born

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Raster]

6. Those would be the "Visual Goths."

:kick:

[dipsydoodle]

11. rofl

:rofl:

[whathehell]

7. Intersting anniversary observance....Congrats! n/t

[Canuckistanian]

9. And they wore better T-shirts

[GoodSpud]

13. Some would argue your date for the fall of the west....

And prefer to date the end of the western empire to the abdication of Romulus Augustus (or Augustusulus if you want to be cute) and the return of the western regalia to Constantinople (476 CE).

I tend to prefer this date because the west was strong enough under Aetius (with Visigothic allies) to turn back Attila the Hun in 451 so there was some life left at that point.


But your point is well taken and I shall surely celebrate by taking my neighbors silver plate and the lead off the roof of the local temple!

[xchrom]

14. i do so love a good barbarian invasion.

there aren't many things they do well -- but they throw a damn fine invasion.

[Joe Fields]

15. when sacking Rome, did they prefer paper or plastic?

[brooklynite]

18. and was there a bag tax?

[brooklynite]

17. Not exactcly...

That would have been Aug 24 on the Jiulian calender, which would be off by about three weeks.

[Javaman]

20. Who recorded it?

Aug. 24th, 410

Dear diary,
I had a heck of a day today, I couldn't make it to the collesium, the streets were jammed. The market was totally out of food. I can't find my dog and these boils on my face flared up again.

Oh and we were sacked today.

[grahamhgreen]

24. Most likely the Church - they allied themselves with the Germans to defeat the Empire.

in their endless quest for power.

[Odin2005]

22. K&R