Page "Honorius (emperor)" Paragraph 26

The city had been under Visigothic siege since shortly after Stilicho's deposition and execution in the summer of 408.

Lacking a strong general to control the by-now mostly barbarian Roman Army, Honorius could do little to attack Alaric's forces directly, and apparently adopted the only strategy he could in the situation: wait passively for the Visigoths to grow weary and spend the time marshalling what forces he could.

Unfortunately, this course of action appeared to be the product of Honorius ' indecisive character and he suffered much criticism for it both from contemporaries and later historians.