Late Roman Empire, Valentinian-Theodosian Dynasty (364-455), Interregnum (392-425): Honorius, Alaric’s Second invasion of Greece [2/2]

75 *HONORIUS (38; r.393-423) (W)

Late in 394 bands of Huns and Marcomanni crossed the Danube and caused havoc in Thrace and Pannonia. In the East, the Huns moved through the Caucasus Mountains and swept through Syria before returning across the Caucasus. In Africa, the comes Africae, Gildo (fl.375-398), was entrusted with the grain supply to the city of Rome, a role played by Egypt until the division of the Empire.

On 17 January 395 Theodosius died on his way to the Eastern Empire, leaving his two sons to rule the two parts of the Empire separately: Arcadius, an eighteen-year-old ruling the East from Constantinople; and ⁵⁰Flavius Honorius (fl.386-423), a ten-year-old ruling the West from Milan.

According to Stilicho, the emperor in a private conversation on the day of his death had entrusted both his sons into Stilicho’s care, and Stilicho therefore now claimed authority over the whole Empire. But in Constantinople the chief minister of Arcadius, ⁵¹Flavius Rufinus (fl.388-395), the praetorian prefect of the East, was an ambitious man and he refused to accept this claim as it rested on Stilicho’s word alone. 

The two young emperors, growing up within the confines of imperial palaces, had little or no appreciation of the realities of life outside their palace walls and this weakness was exploited by the ministers and courtiers around them.

Stilicho ruled for Honorius, and Rufinus had effective control over Arcadius. For the moment Rufinus controlled the administration of the Illyricum and Eastern prefectures, but Stilicho commanded the mobile armies of both Empires.

Alaric’s Second invasion of Greece (395-397) [2/2]

Marching first against the Eastern Empire, Alaric and the Visigoths reached the vicinity of Constantinople but when repelled by the excellent defences of the city, they retraced their steps and moved southwards through Macedonia and the unguarded pass of Thermopylae and into central Greece.

Stilicho marched against Alaric and sent the Eastern forces under a Gothic leader Gainas (fl.394-c.400) on ahead to Constantinople. On 28 November 395 Arcadius, accompanied by Rufinus, came out of the city to welcome back his Eastern troops. At a signal from Gainas a soldier stepped forward and drove his sword into Rufinus’ heart. The court chamberlain Eutropius (fl.395-399) now became the adviser to Arcadius.

Alaric, meanwhile, entered Athens after its capitulation and captured Megara. He then advanced through the now undefended Isthmus into southern Greece (=Peloponnese) and sacked the cities of Corinth, Argos and Sparta. In 397 Stilicho went by sea to Corinth and trapped the Visigoths in the mountains of northwest Peloponnesus. Alaric escaped across the Corinthian Gulf and unhindered marched northward and devastated Epirus until eventually Arcadius’ ministers recognized his position by naming him magister militum per Illyricum.

In 397 Gildo led a revolt in North Africa against Roman rule. Stilicho appointed Gildo’s ‘brother’ Mascezel to quell it. The rebellion was put down with very little resistance and Gildo was executed in July 398. Mascezel, himself, died shortly afterwards, perhaps at Stilicho’s order.

In spring 399 Tribigild, commander of the Gothic colonists in Phrygia, having been refused a donative by Eutropius, revolted and ravaged the country. Eutropius dispatched two forces against him under Gainas and the magister militum Leo respectively. T,ibigild defeated Leo’s troops easily, killing Leo. Gainas reported to Arcadius that Tribigild could not be defeated and would only be appeased by Eutropius being deposed. Arcadius approved this and Eutropius went into exile to Cyprus, but he was executed later in the year.In 400 Gainas led his forces to Constantinople and occupied the city. A zealous Arian, he demanded the use of a Catholic (Nicaean) church for the services of his people. When the imperial bishop, John Chrysostom (c.58; r.397-404; d.407) vehemently opposed this plan the imperial palace was suddenly in flames. Unrest intensified into street fights. Gainus tried to withdraw from Constantinople but the masses attacked his men. He fled the city pursued by a Roman army commanded by ⁵²Flavius Fravitta (fl. 400-402/3). Gainas escaped across the Danube but soon after this he was killed by the Hun leader Uldin (fl.400-412+), who concluded a treaty with Arcadius. By now Tribigild had died in battle in Thrace.