The government of the new church was formed like that of the empire and became strong. Other religions were driven out. In time the many offices of the empire were in the hands of the priests or under their influence. Many years later these two governments of the church and the empire quarreled over their rights to rule the people. THE DOWNFALL OF ROME [Sidenote: =How the Teutonic tribes lived=] =292. The Coming of the Huns and Teutons.= North of the Alps, beyond the Danube and the Rhine, and between the North Sea and the Black Sea, was a vast region of wild lands. Here the German or Teutonic tribes had lived for hundreds of years. They had made little advance in ways of living. They still dwelt in poor villages. They loved to fight, or waste their time in idleness and feasts. They were noted for their love of liberty and pure family life. At the time of the invasions (4th century) they were learning to live in towns, to unite in confederations, and to be ruled by elected kings. They had so increased in numbers that more land was needed to afford them a living. This was the main cause of their moving south to the Roman frontiers. [Sidenote: =Gradual coming of the Germans=] For three hundred years the Germans were restless in their northern homes. But the Roman armies were strong enough to keep them beyond the Danube. Some had come over as soldiers in the Roman legions. By 330 half the troops were German. Some of the more peaceful Germans were allowed to make settlements within the empire. Other Germans came in as slaves, but mainly to work on the farms. By the end of the fourth century after Christ the Romans had become too weak to keep the Germans back. [Illustration: THE COMING OF THE HUNS _From a print after the painting by Ulpiano Checa_] [Sidenote: =Battle of Chalons=] But the Germans were gentle compared with the fierce Huns from Asia who made the next great invasion into Europe. And under their terrible chief, Attila, they swept over Europe like firebrands, laying waste all they could not carry away. At last the Germans and the Romans united and defeated the Huns at Chalons (451). The Huns moved eastward, passed through northern Italy, and soon reëntered Asia. Europe was saved. =293. End of the Empire.= Other German tribes entered the empire, took possession of the lands, and even formed governments under their chiefs. In a quarrel over lands the German troops removed the Roman emperor and declared their chief, Odoacer, king (476). This marks the end of the Roman Empire and the rise of the kingdom of Italy, though the present United Kingdom, formed after centuries of division, among small, jealous city states, is only sixty years old.