Arcadius

  • Arcadius (383-408 CE) was a Roman Emperor in the East.
  • He was a feeble man who was dominated by his senior advisers and his wife Eudoxia.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

  • NAME:
  • ARCADIUS’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
    • 16 Jan 383 CE to 1 May 408 CE.
    • 383-395 CE Co-Emperor with Theodosius I in the East.
    • 393-408 CE Co-Emperor with Honorius in the West.
    • 402-408 CE Co-Emperor with Theodosius II in the East.
  • ARCADIUS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born 1 Jan 377 CE. Died 1 May 408 CE. Aged 31.
  • PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born in Hispania.
  • ARCADIUS’ PREDECESSOR:
  • ARCADIUS’ SUCCESSOR:
  • HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
    • Theodosius I, his father, declared him Emperor in the East.
  • WIVES AND CHILDREN:
  • DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
    • Died from poor health.
  • WHERE BURIED:
  • ARCADIUS WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
    • He was too feeble to rule himself and was dominated by his senior advisers.
  • MONUMENTS:

2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS

  • When his father, the Emperor Theodosius I died in in 395 CE, Arcadius was 17 years old and so came under the influence of the Praetorian Prefect of the East, Rufinas.
  • Rufinus tried to become Arcadius’ father-in-law, but marrying him to his daughter. However, his Chamberlain, Eutropius, persuaded him to marry Aelia Eudoxia, the daughter of the Magister Militum in the East, Bauto,

Assassination of Rufinas

  • Alaric started to invade the Eastern Empire with a Visigothic army in 395 CE.
  • Stilicho brought his Gothic mercenaries to the East, but was ordered to stay in Salona whilst the army continued to Constantinople. His Gothic soldiers assassinated Rufinas on Stilicho’s instructions.

Eutropius becomes chief adviser

  • The Chamberlain, Eutropius, now replaced Rufinas as chief adviser to Arcadius.
  • Arcadius feared a takeover by Stilicho more than the invasion by Alaric, so Alaric was promoted to Magister Militum in the East and Stilicho was sidelined.
  • Eutropius held power for four years but fell from grace in 399 CE.

Gainas becomes Magister Militum

  • Gainas, Leader of the Gothic Mercenaries, forced Arcadius to make him Magister Militum in the East, but kept his soldiers outside the Walls of Constantinople.
  • In July 400 CE, a Riot broke out against him, and 7,000 Goths were massacred inside the city walls. Gainas withdrew and his influence was eventually ended.

John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

  • John Chrysostom and Eudoxia now battled for control over Arcadius for four years.
  • In July 404 CE, John Chrysostom was banished, but Eudoxia died the same year.

Anthemius, Praetorian Prefect

  • Anthemius was the Praetorian Prefect of the East who then ruled for the next four years until Arcadius’ death in 408 CE.
  • He made peace with Stilicho, but lost Illyricum to the Western Empire.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • CLASSICAL SOURCES:
    • Socrates Scholasticus Book V

 

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