During the initial days of the Italian Wars, the Papal States were surrounded on all sides by enemy territory. The Carolingians invaded from the north, south, and east while a naval invasion from the west trapped the Papal States. The fall of the Papal States lasted for less than a year due to minimal resistance, low Papal morale, and the overwhelming numbers possessed by the Carolingians. Before the end of 894, Carolingian forces were in a position in which they were able to strike Rome.