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Theodosius I

Theodosius I the Great: emperor of the Roman world (378-395).

Names:

11 January 347: Flavius Theodosius
19 January 379: Flavius Theodosius Augustus
17 January 395: natural death

Successor of: Valens

Relatives:

father: Theodosius
married to: Aelia Flavia Flacilla, Galla
children:
1. from Flacilla: Arcadius, Honorius, Pulcheria
2. from Galla: Gratianus, Galla Placidia (married to the Visigothic leader Athaulf, and later to Constantius; mother of Valentinian III), Ioannes

Main deeds:

378 Battle of Adrianopel; Valens defeated and killed by Tervingi; Theodosius proclaimed emperor
379 Defeats Visigoths, Alans, and Huns; in the Sasanian Empire, Shapur II is succeeded by Ardašir III
380 Consul (with Gratian); Nicene creed declared orthodox; all other Christian opinions forbidden; campaign against the Visigoths; meeting with Gratianus; illness
381 The Visigothic leader Athanaric visits and dies in Constantinople; the Second Ecumenical Council, at Constantinople (Church of Divine Peace) confirms the Nicene Creed; edict against the Manicheans; Theodosius defeats the Carpi
382 Second edict against the Manicheans; treaty with the Visigoths; they are settled between the Danube and the Balkan range; the altar of Victoria removed from the Curia Julia; first senatorial deputation, to Gratianus
383 Quinquennalia; Arcadius proclaimed co-ruler; in the west revolt of Magnus Maximus; Gratianus captured by Andragathius, an officer of Magnus; executed; in the Sasanian Empire, Ardašir III is succeeded by Shapur III
Theodosius I on horseback. Drawing, based on either a statue or medal

384 Expulsion of heretics from Constantinople; Magnus Maximus recognized; Persian embassy in Constantinople; Theodosius meets Valentinian II in Italy; second senatorial deputation about the altar of Victoria in the Curia, to Valentinian II
385 Theodosius' niece Serena marries Stilicho; pagan sacrifice and prophecy forbidden
386 Death of Aelia Flavia Flacilla; the Visigoths defeated and settled in Phrygia; triumph
387 Quinquennalia of Arcadius; revolt in Antioch; peace with Persia; Armenia divided; Magnus Maximus invades Italy; Valentinian flees to Theodosius in Thessaloniki; Theodosius marries Galla (daughter of Valentinian I)
388 Consul II (with Maternus Cynegius); Decennalia; prohibition of marriage between Jews and Christians; Magnus Maximus defeated and executed; third senatorial deputation about the altar of Victoria in the Curia, to Theodosius; in the Sasanian Empire, Shapur III is succeeded by Bahram IV
388/389: Winter in Milan (with Valentinian II)
389, 13 June: Theodosius, Valentinian II, and the four-year-old Honorius visit Rome
390 Massacre at Thessaloniki; Theodosius excommunicated by Ambrose; penance of Theodosius; Ambrose readmits Theodosius to the church
391 Edict against Paganism; destruction of the Serapeum in Alexandria; war against pillagers in Macedonia
392 Fourth senatorial deputation about the altar of Victoria in the Curia, to Valentinian II; Arbogast murders Valentinian II and supports the usurper Eugenius; prohibition of paganism
393 Consul III (with Flavius Abundantius); Honorius made co-ruler
394 Death of Galla
The Frigidus Battlefield

394, 5 September: Eugenius defeated at the Frigidus; suicide of Arbogast; for the last time, the Roman empire is ruled by one man
395 Honorius settles in Milan; death of Theodosius in Milan (Ambrose, "De obitu Theodosii")

Buildings: Constantinople: Forum of Theodosius; Column of Theodosius; Triumphal Arch ("Golden Gate")

Silver disk with Theodosius I and his sons Honorius and Arcadius

Contemporary events:

379 Council of Antioch
379 Death of Basilius
380 Gregory Nazianzus orders burning of all known copies of Sappho's poetry
381 Second Ecumenical Council, at Constantinople
386 Monastery of Soumela founded
388 Jerome settles in Palestine
389 All pagan monuments in Alexandria, including the Museum, destroyed
389/390 Death of Gregory Nazianzus
390 Hieronymus publishes his translation of the New Testament
391 Head of John the Baptist brought to Constantinople; destruction of the Serapeum in Alexandria
393 or 394 End of the Olympic Games
394 Death of Gregorius of Nyssa
395 Death of Ausonius

Succeeded by: Arcadius (east) and Honorius (west)