Sacks of Rome

390 BC

King Brennus of the Senones tribe sacked the city after defeating a Roman army at the Battle of the Allia

410

Led by King Alaric, these people themselves were fleeing the invading Huns

455

King Geiseric led this invasion from North Africa, then vandalised the place

546

King Totila was in charge of this lot when they took Rome from the Byzantines

846

These seaborne raiders plundered and sacked right up to the Aurelian Walls, including the basilicas of Old St Peter’s and St Paul’s

1084

Pope Gregory VII probably regretted requesting military aid from Robert Guiscard’s mercenaries

1527

Ironically, underpaid troops of Emperor Charles V mutinied and sacked the city during the War of the League of Cognac

1870

The Papal States ended when King Victor Emmanuel II completed the unification of this country

1943

Former allies who turned on their hosts after the Armistice of Cassibile during WWII