The
barbarians that lived outside the borders of the
Roman Empire often launched
raids on Roman territory. These came to nothing but in 367BC a different attack took place.
In the
summer of that year the barbarians of the
north formed an
alliance. The savage
Picts launched themselves against
Hadrian's Wall. Many
forts were overrun and their
garrisons put to the
sword. The Roman
military commander of
Britain was surrounded and cut off. At the same time
Irish raiders sailed across the
Irish Sea to
plunder the west coast of Britain. Even more serious attacks launched by the Franks and
Saxons in the
Channel and
North Sea. They eliminated the Roman
fleet.
Within a short time, Roman military control in Britain and northern
Gaul had been destroyed. The various bands of barbarians could now roam at will through the countryside. They pillaged
villages, robbed
temples and carried people off as
slaves.
It took nearly two years to push the barbarians back and restore peace. The Barbarian Conspiracy of 367BC was a major blow to the Roman Empire.