Historical Figure
Theodosius I
d. 395
Roman emperor prior to the Splitting of Rome into East and West from 379 to 395
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Biography
Theodosius I, also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman emperor from 379 to 395. He won two civil wars and was instrumental in establishing the Nicene Creed as the orthodox doctrine for Nicene Christianity. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule the entire Roman Empire before its administration was permanently split between the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire. He ended the Gothic War (376–382), but did so on terms disadvantageous to the empire, with the Goths remaining politically autonomous within Roman territory, albeit as nominal allies.
Timeline
The story of Theodosius I, told in moments.
Appointed emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire by Gratian after the catastrophic Roman defeat at Adrianople, where the Goths killed Emperor Valens. Inherited a shattered army and a crisis with no good options.
Convened the First Council of Constantinople. The council affirmed the Nicene Creed as orthodox Christianity and condemned Arianism as heresy. Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the empire and banned pagan worship.
Won the Battle of the Frigidus, defeating the western usurper Eugenius and his general Arbogast. Briefly reunited the entire Roman Empire under one ruler. The last person to do so.
Died of dropsy in Milan at 48. Split the empire between his two young sons, Arcadius in the east and Honorius in the west. The western half would fall within 80 years.
Artifacts (1)
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