Preceden

Migration Period Timeline

(c. 375 AD – c. 800 AD)

The Migration Period, also known as the Barbarian Invasions, was a era of large-scale migrations of peoples such as the Huns, Goths, Vandals, Franks, Anglo-Saxons, and Slavs into and within Europe. These movements contributed to the fall of the Western Roman Empire and laid the foundations for medieval European kingdoms. Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Balkan and steppe peoples

Bulgars occupy the Pontic steppe north of the Caucasus

100 - 199

The Bulgars, originally a nomadic group probably originating from Central Asia, occupied the Pontic steppe north of the Caucasus beginning in the 2nd century, establishing themselves as a significant power in the region.

Image source: Bulgars

Bulgars occupy the Pontic steppe north of the Caucasus

Khazars push the Bulgars westward

600 - 699

Pushed by the Khazars, the majority of the Bulgars migrated west and dominated Byzantine territories along the lower Danube during the 7th century.

Image source: Old Great Bulgaria

Khazars push the Bulgars westward

Bulgars dominate Byzantine territories along the lower Danube

600 - 699

After being pushed westward by the Khazars, the Bulgars came to dominate Byzantine territories along the lower Danube in the 7th century, founding a lasting state in the region.

Image source: First Bulgarian Empire

Bulgars dominate Byzantine territories along the lower Danube

Serb tribes invade northern Albania

650

By the mid seventh century, Serb tribes were invading northern Albania, part of the wider movement of Slavic peoples into the Balkans during this era.

Image source: Slavic migrations to the Balkans

Serb tribes invade northern Albania

Bulgars invade and settle central Albania

800 - 900

By the ninth century, the central Balkans and the area of southern and central Albania became invaded and settled by Bulgars, extending Bulgar control across much of the region.

Germanic migrations

Franks aligned with Rome as leaders of western Germanic tribes

200 - 299

From the 3rd century onward, the leaders of the Franks, a fusion of western Germanic tribes, had been aligned with Rome, a relationship that would later facilitate their gradual entry into Roman Gaul.

Image source: Franks

Franks aligned with Rome as leaders of western Germanic tribes

Crisis of the Third Century transforms the Roman Empire

235 - 284

The Crisis of the Third Century caused significant changes within the Roman Empire in both its western and its eastern portions, reshaping the imperial structures with which migrating peoples would interact.

Image source: Crisis of the Third Century

Crisis of the Third Century transforms the Roman Empire

Goths settled as foederati in the Roman Balkans

300 - 399

In the 4th century, the Roman Empire settled a very large group of Goths as foederati within the Roman Balkans, integrating barbarian warriors into the empire's military and political framework.

Franks settled south of the Rhine in Roman Gaul

300 - 399

During the 4th century, the Franks were settled south of the Rhine in Roman Gaul, marking an early stage of Germanic settlement within the Western Empire's territory.

Franks enter Roman lands in Gaul

400 - 499

In Gaul, the Franks entered Roman lands gradually during the 5th century, expanding from their foothold south of the Rhine deeper into the former imperial provinces.

Burgundians settle in northwestern Italy, Switzerland and Eastern France

400 - 499

The Burgundians settled in northwestern Italy, Switzerland and Eastern France during the 5th century, carving out territories within the collapsing Western Roman Empire.

Image source: Burgundians

Burgundians settle in northwestern Italy, Switzerland and Eastern France

Initial Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain

400 - 499

The initial Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain occurred during the 5th century, when Roman control of Britain had come to an end, as Germanic peoples crossed the North Sea to establish new communities on the island.

Image source: Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain

Initial Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain

End of Roman control of Britain

400 - 499

Roman control of Britain came to an end during the 5th century, creating the conditions for new migrations into the former province.

Image source: End of Roman rule in Britain

End of Roman control of Britain

Childeric I consolidates Frankish power

458 - 481

Childeric, a Frankish leader whose lineage had long been aligned with Rome, consolidated power among the Franks during the late 5th century, laying foundations for his son Clovis's later conquests.

Image source: Childeric I

Childeric I consolidates Frankish power

Eastern Roman Empire endures after the Western collapse

476

While the Western Empire fell to migrating peoples, the Eastern Roman Empire adapted and continued to exist for centuries afterward, until the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453.

Image source: Byzantine Empire

Eastern Roman Empire endures after the Western collapse

Clovis defeats Syagrius at Soissons

486

Clovis's decisive victory over Syagrius in 486 broke the last significant Roman authority in northern Gaul, allowing the Franks to establish themselves as rulers of northern Roman Gaul.

Image source: Battle of Soissons (486)

Clovis defeats Syagrius at Soissons

Franks establish rule over northern Roman Gaul

486

After consolidating power under Childeric and Clovis's victory over Syagrius in 486, the Franks established themselves as rulers of northern Roman Gaul, founding one of the successor kingdoms of the West.

Image source: Francia

Franks establish rule over northern Roman Gaul

Lombards settle in Italy with their allies

500 - 599

The Lombards, a Germanic people, settled in Italy in the 6th century together with their Herulian, Suebian, Gepid, Thuringian, Bulgar, Sarmatian and Saxon allies, profoundly reshaping the peninsula's political landscape.

Image source: Lombards

Lombards settle in Italy with their allies

Byzantine-Arab conflicts

Khazar-Arab wars halt Arab expansion across the Caucasus

600 - 799

During the Khazar-Arab Wars of the 7th and 8th centuries, the Khazars stopped the Arab expansion into Europe across the Caucasus, acting as a buffer between the caliphate and the steppe.

Image source: Arab–Khazar wars

Khazar-Arab wars halt Arab expansion across the Caucasus

Arab armies attempt to invade southeast Europe via Asia Minor

670 - 718

During the early Byzantine-Arab Wars, Arab armies attempted to invade southeast Europe via Asia Minor during the late 7th and early 8th centuries, threatening Constantinople itself.

Image source: Arab–Byzantine wars

Arab armies attempt to invade southeast Europe via Asia Minor

Siege of Constantinople (717-718)

717 - 718

Arab attempts to invade southeast Europe were defeated at the siege of Constantinople (717-718) by the joint forces of Byzantium and the Bulgars, halting Arab advance into Europe.

Image source: Siege of Constantinople (717–718)

Siege of Constantinople (717-718)

Muslims conquer most of Sicily from the Christians

827 - 902

The following centuries saw the Muslims successful in conquering most of Sicily from the Christians by 902, completing a major phase of Islamic expansion into the Mediterranean.

Image source: Muslim conquest of Sicily

Muslims conquer most of Sicily from the Christians

Late migrations

Viking expansion begins in the late 8th century

790

The Viking expansion from the late 8th century conventionally marks one of the last large migration movements of the period, as Norse seafarers raided, traded and settled across Europe.

Image source: Viking expansion

Viking expansion begins in the late 8th century

Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin

895

The Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin from around AD 895, followed by subsequent Hungarian invasions of Europe, conventionally marks one of the last large migration movements of the Migration Period.

Image source: Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin

Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin

Hungarian invasions of Europe

899 - 955

Following their conquest of the Carpathian Basin around 895, the Hungarians launched invasions deep into Europe, representing one of the final great migration movements of the period.

Image source: Hungarian invasions of Europe

Hungarian invasions of Europe

Historiography

Fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans

1453

Migrations and the use of non-Romans in the military were known before and after the Migration Period, and the Eastern Roman Empire adapted and continued to exist until the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453.

Image source: Fall of Constantinople

Fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans

Key Facts

  1. The Migration Period is traditionally dated from around 375 AD, when the Huns pushed the Goths across the Danube into Roman territory, to about 800 AD with Charlemagne's coronation.
  2. The sack of Rome by the Visigoths in 410 AD and by the Vandals in 455 AD symbolized the vulnerability of the Western Roman Empire.
  3. In 476 AD, the Germanic leader Odoacer deposed Romulus Augustulus, traditionally marking the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
  4. The Anglo-Saxon migration to Britain beginning in the 5th century shaped the language and culture of England.
  5. The period ended with the rise of stabilized kingdoms, such as the Frankish Empire under Charlemagne, setting the stage for medieval Europe.

Source

This Migration Period timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

Want a timeline like this one?

Generate yours with AI or build it from scratch, for free.

Try It for Free