The Goths began invading and taking over Roman territorystarting in about 376 AD. By 476 when Flavius Odoacer, the firstKing of Italy, deposed the Roman Emperor Romulus, Rome was no more- in part due to the depredations of the Goths. Note it wasprimarily two branches of the Goths - namely the Visigoths andOstrogoths who played a major roll in the fall of the RomanEmpire.