Alaric's primary goal throughout his career has not been to undermine the Empire, but to secure for himself a regular and recognized position within the Empire's borders.

His demands are certainly grand: the concession of a block of territory two hundred miles long by one hundred and fifty wide between the Danube and the Gulf of Venice (to be held probably on some terms of nominal dependence on the Empire) and the title of commander-in-chief of the imperial army.

Immense as his terms are, the Emperor would have been well advised to grant them.

Honorius, however, refuses to see beyond his own safety, guaranteed by the dikes and marshes of Ravenna.

As all attempts to conduct a satisfactory negotiation with this emperor fail, Alaric seizes Rome's port city of Ostia in 409, blockading Rome and bringing the inhabitants close to starvation.