The Waning Empire.

The Fall of the Western Roman Empire has captured the imaginations of artists and historians since the time of Justinian I.

The Empire's woes can be traced back to the reign of Constantius II ( some historians go back to Constantine I ). Under Constantius, the bureaucracy grew corrupt and weak, discipline in the legions grew lax, and taxes were high. Julian tried to reverse many of these problems, but his death in 363 CE put an end to any major reforms in the Western Empire. His successors Valentinian and Valens did their best, but it wasn't enough. The migrations of the barbarians ( due to the huns) only exacerbated the woes of Milan and Constantinople.
I would like to focus on the Roman Army for the rest of my babbling session
Many historians like to choose the Battle of Mursa Major (351 CE) as a turning point in the decline of the legions. Who can blame them, over 50,000 troops were lost in a single day. 50,000 men is enough to make over two entire field armies!
So to show how bad the legions had gotten under Emperor Gratian; here is a quote from Vegetius and later used by Gibbon" The relaxation of discipline, and the disuse of exercise, rendered the soldiers less able, and less willing, to support the fatigues of the service; they complained of the weight of the armor, which they seldom wore.The heavy weapons of their ancestors, the short sword, and the formidable pilum, which had subdued the world, insensibly dropped from their feeble hands."

Magnus Maximus managed to restore some semblance of order in 385 when he campaign over the Rhine to punish the Franks ( Gratian had done the same to the alamanni in the 370's) and when he reorganized the provinces of Gaul and Spain. Unfortunately his death in a civil war in 388CE along with the Battle of the Frigidus ( two very bloody and costly battles) in 394CE, basically destroyed the Western Empire's army.
The situation was dire for the West, a good example is when Stillicho was only able to muster and army of thirty thousand troops ( most of them barbarian mercenaries) to halt an invasion of Italy in 405CE.
Here is one last quote, this one from a Roman Senator to Stillicho when ordered to pay off the Barbarians instead of fighting them, "This is not peace, but a pact of servitude".
I cannot agree more; though there would be a few shining lights in this dark ocean ( Aetius and Majorian come to mind) the Empire's flame was flickering out.

If I put anyone to sleep, you have my deepest apologies.
Now then lets post coins of the Decline of the Western Roman Empire. Lets have the starting date be 378 CE and the end date be 476 CE.
Here are a few maps that may help visualize what I am talking about.






Here is a picture ( from my friend on deviant art) that depicts the very bloody and disastrous Battle of the Frigidus between Emperor/Usurper Eugenius and that other guy