Alaric (al'-ar-ick). Two kings of the Visigoths have borne this appellation. Alaric I, after having despoiled several provinces of the Roman Empire, in the reign of Honorius, twice besieged Rome itself. At first he contented himself with levying heavy contributions. When he again invaded it, he plundered the city and destroyed its noblest monuments. In 406 he extorted from Honorius the province of Spain and a part of Gaul, and established the kingdoms of the Visigoths. He died in 410 while making preparations for the conquest of Africa and Sicily. Alaric II, eighth king of the Visigoths, came to the throne in 484. Besides Spain, he possessed Languedoc, Provence, and various other tracts of country. Alaric held his court at Toulouse. Clovis I, king of the Franks, jealous of his power, carried war into the south of Gaul. A great battle was fought near Poitiers, in which Alaric fell by the hand of Clovis.

---