Theodosius I., THE GREAT

Theodosius I., THE GREAT, son of Theodosius the Elder, was one of the most notable and most capable of the later Roman emperors. Born about 346 at Canca in the north-west of Spain, he served under his father in Britain, Germany, and Africa, and won fame as a general by his exploits in Mesia. Upon his father's death he retired to his native farm, whence he was summoned by Gratian to become his colleague in the purple and emperor in the East (379). It was a critical time. The Goths (q.v.), too numerous and formidable to be attacked en masse, flushed too with their recent Cannæ-like victory at Adrianople and the total defeat of his predecessor Valens, were roaming the country at will, unchecked masters of the situation. His military reputation was equal to the strain. He made Thessalonica his headquarters, and within four years, through patience and tact, after reviving the spirits of the imperial troops by small but decisive victories, he broke up the vast Gothic army, attached many of its members to the empire as faithful soldiers and allies under their own chiefs, and restored tranquillity to the troubled country south of the Danube. A serious illness in 380 led to his baptism as a Trinitarian, and, as a consequence, to the restoration of the religious unity of the empire and the promulgation of various edicts against Arianism and other heresies. He appointed Gregory Nazianzen Archbishop of Constantinople, and summoned the second general council, which met there (381) to supplement the labours of Nicaea. The murder of Gratian at Lyons, the advance towards Italy of the upstart Maximus, proclaimed emperor in Britain, and the arrival of Valentinian II. (with his mother Justina and his sister Galla) begging for help led to Theodosius' marriage with Galla, to his victory at Aquileia (388), and to the restoration of his youthful colleague. Hereafter for some years Theodosius lived at Milan enjoying the friendship and respect of its bishop, St Ambrose. The relationship of those two great men—foremost respectively in state and church—honourable to both and dramatic in its climax, is one of the most interesting features of Theodosius' reign. Theodosius was able, just, even generous, virtuous, and religious, but inclined to indolence and of a passionate temper. He had cancelled, upon the entreaties of its bishop and the penitence and humiliation of its leading citizens, the severe measures meted out to Antioch after a riot (387) in which the imperial statues had been contemptuously overthrown; but in 390, when the governor of Thessalonica was lynched by a circus mob for his punishment of a brutal but favourite charioteer, Theodosius, in spite of expostulations, ordered the people of the city to be invited into the circus and there massacred. At least 7000 were thus put to death. Thereupon Ambrose wrote to Theodosius upbraiding him with the deed, and even after some time had elapsed fearlessly withstood his attempt to enter the church at Milan. The bishop only readmitted the emperor to the sacrament after eight months' retirement and public penance performed in the face of the whole congregation. In 392 Valentinian II. was murdered, and in 394 Theodosius, then at Constantinople, again marched westwards, this time against the Frankish general Arbogast and his puppet emperor Eugenius. After a stubborn fight at the river Frigidus, lasting two days, Theodosius gained a complete victory, and for four months ruled as sole Roman emperor. He expired in the arms of Ambrose on 17th January 395—a date memorable in the history of the later Roman empire, for almost immediately thereafter followed the barbarian invasions of Greece and Italy, which led directly to the subsequent Teutonic settlements in the south and indirectly to the formation of the kingdoms of modern Europe. For Theodosius II., see BYZANTINE EMPIRE.

Theodule Pass. see ZERMATT.