In 410 CE, Rome was sacked by the Visigoths in an event that shook the ancient world. How did Roman Emperor Honorius (384-423), residing away from Rome in Ravenna, take the news?

Answer: He could not take it in. When told that Rome was no more, Honorius groaned aloud and said “but it was eating from my hand a moment ago!” Honorius also had a chicken which he had named “Rome”. An adviser had to step in and tell him that it was, in fact, the city of Rome that had perished.

Source: AD410 – The Year That Shook Rome by Sam Moorhead & David Stuttard

More at: History

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