The Economic Factors That Shaped the Western Empire

By the late four hundreds, the western economy was disintegrating and the central government was starved of funds. The imperial authorities turned increasingly to germanic mercenaries who were all happy to do the romans fighting for them. But after adrianople, these forces ceased even fighting under roman officers and instead joined as whole national armies, fighting under their own kings. In effect, the empire was no longer able to raise a national army. It could only pay for protection. And this, i can assure you, is an unsustainable model of self defence.