Theodosius I Biography

Theodosius I, also known as Flavius Theodosius Augustus and Theodosius the Great, was the last ruler of the Roman Empire. Having gained military training under his father’s staff, he served in his father’s army. After his father’s humiliating death in 374, he stayed at his family estate for a brief period, away from all military and political activity. Later, in 378, Gratian, the emperor of the Western Roman Empire, restored him as the commander of the Eastern Roman Empire. After the death of Valens, the ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire, he was raised as the emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, by default. He was baptized as a Nicean Christian in 380, and he declared the same as the state religion. Followers of other religions were persecuted. During his reign as the emperor of the eastern part of the Roman Empire, he continuously fought the invading Gothic tribes. However, he managed to strike an uneasy alliance with a few Gothic tribes and decimated others. The Roman Empire also faced two civil wars during his rule. Magnus Maximus killed Gratian to usurp the kingdom but was subdued by Theodosius. A few years later, Arbogast, who controlled Valentinian II, the successor of Gratian, was most likely the cause of the latter’s mysterious hanging. Arbogast then made an unsuccessful attempt to crown Eugenius as the emperor. Theodosius eliminated both of them and ruled the Roman Empire as the sole emperor until his death.