| Honorius | |
| Emperor of the Western Roman Empire | |
 In this silver siliqua coin, Honorius is celebrated as the "Glory of the Romans", and has a halo |
|
| Reign | 23 January 393 - 395 (Augustus under his father); 395 - August 15, 423 (emperor in the west, with Arcadius in the east) |
|---|---|
| Full name | Flavius Honorius Augustus |
| Born | September 9, 384 |
| Died | August 15, 423 (aged 38) |
| Predecessor | Theodosius I |
| Successor | Valentinian III |
| Wives | Maria Thermantia |
| Dynasty | Theodosian |
| Father | Theodosius I |
| Mother | Aelia Flaccilla |
Flavius Honorius (September 9, 384–August 15, 423) was Roman Emperor (393- 395) and then Western Roman Emperor from 395 until his death. The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC The Western Roman Empire refers to the western half of the Roman Empire, from its division by Diocletian in 285 the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern The siliqua is the modern name given to small thin Roman silver coins produced from 4th century and later A halo (ἅλως also known as a nimbus, Aureole, glory, or gloriole) is a ring of light that surrounds a person in art Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Events By Place Roman Empire 23 January — Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine years old son Honorius Events By Place Roman Empire After the death of emperor Theodosius I, the Empire is re-divided into an eastern and a western half Augustus (plural augusti) Latin for "majestic" "the increaser" or "venerable" was an Ancient Roman Flavius Theodosius (January 11 347 – January 17 395 also called Theodosius I and Theodosius the Great ( Greek: Θεοδόσιος Α΄ Events By Place Roman Empire After the death of emperor Theodosius I, the Empire is re-divided into an eastern and a western half Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Events By Place Western Roman Empire On the death of Honorius, Joannes, a primicerius notariorum The Western Roman Empire refers to the western half of the Roman Empire, from its division by Diocletian in 285 the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Flavius Arcadius (377/378&ndash May 1, 408) was Byzantine Emperor in the Eastern half of the Roman Empire from 395 until his death Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Events By Place Roman Empire The Forum of Theodosius I is built in Constantinople. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Events By Place Western Roman Empire On the death of Honorius, Joannes, a primicerius notariorum Flavius Theodosius (January 11 347 – January 17 395 also called Theodosius I and Theodosius the Great ( Greek: Θεοδόσιος Α΄ Flavius Placidius Valentinianus ( July 2, 419 &ndash March 16, 455) known in English as Valentinian III, was among the last Thermantia (d 415 was the second Empress consort of Honorius, Western Roman Emperor. The Theodosian dynasty was a Roman family that rose to eminence in the waning days of the Roman Empire. Flavius Theodosius (January 11 347 – January 17 395 also called Theodosius I and Theodosius the Great ( Greek: Θεοδόσιος Α΄ Aelia Flavia Flaccilla (died 385 first wife of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Events By Place Roman Empire The Forum of Theodosius I is built in Constantinople. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Events By Place Western Roman Empire On the death of Honorius, Joannes, a primicerius notariorum The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Events By Place Roman Empire 23 January — Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine years old son Honorius Events By Place Roman Empire After the death of emperor Theodosius I, the Empire is re-divided into an eastern and a western half The Western Roman Empire refers to the western half of the Roman Empire, from its division by Diocletian in 285 the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern He was the younger son of Theodosius I and his first wife Aelia Flaccilla, and brother of the Eastern Emperor Arcadius. Flavius Theodosius (January 11 347 – January 17 395 also called Theodosius I and Theodosius the Great ( Greek: Θεοδόσιος Α΄ Aelia Flavia Flaccilla (died 385 first wife of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I. Flavius Arcadius (377/378&ndash May 1, 408) was Byzantine Emperor in the Eastern half of the Roman Empire from 395 until his death
The reign of Honorius was characterized by erosion of the Western Roman Empire and its territories. The Western Roman Empire refers to the western half of the Roman Empire, from its division by Diocletian in 285 the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern When Honorius died, he left an empire on the verge of collapse.
Contents |
Rule
Early reign
After holding the consulate at the age of two, Honorius was declared Augustus, and thus co-ruler, on 23 January 393 after the death of Valentinian II and the usurpation of Eugenius. Consul (abbrev cos; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire Augustus (plural augusti) Latin for "majestic" "the increaser" or "venerable" was an Ancient Roman Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Events By Place Roman Empire 23 January — Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine years old son Honorius Flavius Valentinianus Junior (371 – 15 May 392) known usually by his Anglicised name Valentinian II, was a Roman Emperor Flavius Eugenius (died 6 September 394 was a Roman usurper (392-394 against Emperor Theodosius I. When Theodosius died, in January 395, Honorius and Arcadius divided the Empire, so that Honorius became Western Roman Emperor at the age of ten. Events By Place Roman Empire After the death of emperor Theodosius I, the Empire is re-divided into an eastern and a western half
For the first part of his reign, Honorius depended on the military leadership of the Vandal general Stilicho. Flavius Stilicho (occasionally written as Stilico) (ca 359 &ndash August 22, 408) was a high-ranking general ( Magister militum To strengthen his bonds to the young emperor, Stilicho married his daughter Maria to him. The epithalamion written for the occasion by Stilicho's court poet Claudian survives. Claudian (lat Claudius Claudianus) was a court Poet to the Emperor Honorius and Stilicho.
At first Honorius based his capital in Milan, but when the Visigoths entered Italy in 402 he moved his capital to the coastal city of Ravenna, which was protected by a ring of marshes and strong fortifications. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. The Visigoths (Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, or Wisi were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East Events By Place Western Roman Empire Stilicho recalls troops from the frontiers of the Roman Empire to Ravenna is a City and Comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. While the new capital was easier to defend, it was poorly situated to allow Roman forces to protect central Italy from the barbarian incursions.
Erosion of the Western Roman Empire
Honorius' reign was plagued by many threats: from the barbarians entering within the Empire's borders to several usurpers.
A revolt led by Gildo, comes Africae, in Northern Africa lasted for two years (397-398). The Gildonic revolt was a rebellion in 398 led by Comes Gildo against Roman Emperor Honorius. Events By Place Asia The Xiongnu occupy the Gansu area in China. Events By Place Western Roman Empire An imperial Edict obliges Roman landowners to yield 1/3 of their fields to the barbarians who have In 405, a barbarian army led by Radagaisus invaded Italy, bringing devastation to the heart of the Empire, until Stilicho defeated them in 406. Radagaisus (died 23 August 406) was a Pagan, Gothic King who led an invasion of Roman Italy in late 405 and the first half Italia, under the Roman Republic and later Empire, was the name of the Italian peninsula.
The situation in Britannia was even more problematic. Britannia was the term originally used by the Romans to refer first to the British Isles, and later to the island of Great Britain. The British provinces were isolated, lacking support from the Empire, and the soldiers supported the revolts of Marcus (406 - 407), Gratian (407), and Constantine "III". Marcus (d 407 was a Roman usurper emperor (406-407 in Roman Britain. For the cars see Peugeot 407 and Bristol 407. Events By Place Western Roman Empire Gratianus Gratian (died 407 was a Roman usurper (407 in Roman Britain. Following the death of usurper Marcus, Gratian was acclaimed as emperor by the army in Constantine III (died 411 by September 18) was a Roman general who declared himself Western Roman Emperor in 407 abdicating in 411 (and being killed Constantine invaded Gaul in 407, occupying Arles. Arles (aʁl̥ Provençal Occitan: Arles in both classical and Mistralian norms is a City in the south of France, [1]
An invasion of Alans, Suevi and Vandals moved from Gaul on 31 December 406, and arrived in Hispania in 409. The Alans or Alani (occasionally but more rarely termed Alauni or Halani) were an Iranian nomadic group among the Sarmatian people The Suebi or Suevi (from Proto-Germanic * swēbaz based on the Proto-Germanic root * swē- meaning "one's own" Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Hispania was the name given by the Romans to the whole of the Iberian Peninsula (modern Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Gibraltar In 408, Stilicho (after forcing the Roman Senate to pay 4,000 pounds of gold)[2] was arrested and executed by the order of Honorius, probably because of a court conspiracy against the Arian general. Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. The Visigoths under their King Alaric I invaded Italy in 408, besieged Rome, and extorted from the city a ransom of 5,000 pounds of gold, 30,000 pounds of silver, 4,000 silken tunics, 3,000 hides dyed scarlet, and 3,000 pounds of pepper)[3], while Honorius in Ravenna did nothing. Alaric I ( Alareiks in the original Gothic; Alarik or Alarich in modern Germanic languages Alaricus in Latin and Alarico
In 409, Alaric returned, and with the agreement of the Senate supported the usurpation of Priscus Attalus. Events By Place Western Roman Empire Constantine III 's general Gerontius revolts in Hispania, and elevates Priscus Attalus (d after 416 was twice Roman usurper (in 409 and in 414 against Emperor Honorius, with Visigothic support In 410, the Eastern Roman Empire sent six Legions (6,000 men; LAte Roman legions were small units)[4] to aid Honorius. For other uses see Legion The Roman Legion (from Latin legio "military levy Conscription," To counter Priscus, Honorius tried to negotiate with Alaric. Alaric withdrew his support for Priscus in 410, but the negotiations with Honorius broke down. Alaric again entered Italy and sacked Rome. The Sack of Rome occurred on August 24, 410. The city was attacked by the Visigoths, led by Alaric I.
The revolt of Constantine III in the west continued through this period. In 409, Gerontius, Constantine III's general in Hispania, rebelled against him, proclaimed Maximus Emperor, and besieged Constantine at Arles. Maximus was Roman usurper (409 - 411 in Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula - modern Portugal and Spain) Honorius now found himself an able commander, Constantius, who defeated Maximus and Gerontius, and then Constantine, in 411. Flavius Constantius (died 2 September 421) whose name is traditionally Anglicized as Constantius III, was a late Roman general politician
Gaul was again a source of troubles for Honorius: just after Constantius' troops had returned to Italy, Jovinus revolted in northern Gaul, with the support of Alans, Burgundians, and the Gallic nobility. Jovinus is a Roman Cognomen, most often used for a 5th century Roman usurper emperor Jovinus tried to negotiate with the invading Goths of Ataulf (412), but his proclamation of his brother Sebastianus as Augustus made Ataulf seek alliance with Honorius. The Goths ( Gothic: Gothic usvg|14px|u]]Gothic asvg|14px|a]]Gothic s Sebastianus (d 413 a brother of Jovinus, was an aristocrat of southern Gaul. Augustus (plural augusti) Latin for "majestic" "the increaser" or "venerable" was an Ancient Roman Honorius had Ataulf settle the matter with Jovinus, and the rebel was defeated and executed in 413.
In 414, Constantius attacked Ataulf, who proclaimed Priscus Attalus emperor again. Constantius drove Ataulf into Hispania, and Attalus, having again lost Visigoth support, was captured and deposed.
Northeastern Gaul became subject to even greater Frankish influence, while a treaty signed in 418 granted to the Visigoths the southwestern portion, the former Gallia Aquitania. The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group The Visigoths (Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, or Wisi were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East
In 417, Constantius married Honorius' sister, Galla Placidia. Aelia Galla Placidia (392 – November 27, 450) was the Empress consort of Constantius III, Western Roman Emperor. In 421, Honorius recognized him as co-emperor Constantius III, but he died early in 422. Events By Place Western Roman Empire February 8 — Constantius III becomes Co-Emperor of the Western Events By Topic Religion September 10 — Pope Celestine I succeeds Pope Boniface I as the
In 420-422, another Maximus (or perhaps the same) gained and lost power in Hispania.
Death
Honorius died of dropsy in 423, leaving no heir. Oedema (or Edema in American English formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is the increase of Interstitial fluid in any organ &mdash swelling In the subsequent interregnum Joannes was nominated emperor. Joannes or Ioannes was a Roman usurper (423-425 against Valentinian III. The following year, however, the Eastern Emperor Theodosius II elected emperor his cousin Valentinian III, son of Galla Placidia and Constantius III. Flavius Theodosius ( 10 April, 401 – July 28, 450) called the Calligrapher, known in English as Theodosius II, was Flavius Placidius Valentinianus ( July 2, 419 &ndash March 16, 455) known in English as Valentinian III, was among the last Aelia Galla Placidia (392 – November 27, 450) was the Empress consort of Constantius III, Western Roman Emperor. Flavius Constantius (died 2 September 421) whose name is traditionally Anglicized as Constantius III, was a late Roman general politician
Sack of Rome
The most notable event of his reign was the assault and Sack of Rome on August 24, 410 by the Visigoths under Alaric. The Sack of Rome occurred on August 24, 410. The city was attacked by the Visigoths, led by Alaric I. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Events By place Western Roman Empire Alaric I deposes Priscus Attalus as Emperor. Alaric I ( Alareiks in the original Gothic; Alarik or Alarich in modern Germanic languages Alaricus in Latin and Alarico
The city had been under Visigothic siege since shortly after Stilicho's deposition and execution in the summer of 408. Lacking a strong general to control the by-now mostly barbarian Roman Army, Honorius could do little to attack Alaric's forces directly, and apparently adopted the only strategy he could in the situation: wait passively for the Visigoths to grow weary and spend the time marshalling what forces he could. Unfortunately, this course of action appeared to be the product of Honorius' indecisive character and he suffered much criticism for it both from contemporaries and later historians.
Whether this plan could have worked is perhaps debatable. In any case it was overtaken by events. Stricken by starvation, somebody opened Rome's defenses to Alaric and the Goths poured in. The city had not been under the control of a foreign force since an invasion of Gauls some eight centuries before. The sack itself was notably mild as sacks go; Churches and religious statuary went unharmed for example. The psychological blow to the Romans was considerably more painful. The shock of this event reverberated from Britain to Jerusalem, and inspired Augustine to write his magnum opus, The City of God.
The year 410 also saw Honorius reply to a British plea for assistance against local barbarian incursions. Romano-British culture is that of the Romanized Britons under the Roman Empire and later the Western Roman Empire, and of those exposed to Roman culture in the years Preoccupied with the Visigoths and lacking any real capabilities to assist the distant province, Honorius told the Britons to defend themselves as best they could.
Judgments on Honorius
In his History of the Wars, Procopius mentions a story (which Gibbon disbelieved) where, on hearing the news that Rome had "perished", Honorius was initially shocked; thinking the news was in reference to a favorite chicken he had named "Roma", he recalled in disbelief that the bird was just recently feeding out of his hand. Procopius of Caesarea ( Προκόπιος ο Καισαρεύς, c Edward Gibbon ( April 27, 1737 January 16, 1794) was an English historian and Member of Parliament. It was then explained to him that the Rome in question was the city. [5]
Summarizing his account of Honorius' reign, the historian J.B. Bury wrote, "His name would be forgotten among the obscurest occupants of the Imperial throne were it not that his reign coincided with the fatal period in which it was decided that western Europe was to pass from the Roman to the Teuton. John Bagnell Bury ( 16 October 1861 &ndash 1 June 1927) known as J " After listing the disasters of those 28 years, Bury concludes that Honorius "himself did nothing of note against the enemies who infested his realm, but personally he was extraordinarily fortunate in occupying the throne till he died a natural death and witnessing the destruction of the multitude of tyrants who rose up against him. "[6]
Honorius issued a decree during his reign, prohibiting men from wearing trousers in Rome [Codex Theodosianus 14. 10. 2-3, tr. C. Pharr, "The Theodosian Code," p. 415]. The last known gladiatorial fight took place during the reign of Honorius.
See also
- Usurpers during Honorius reign:
- Priscus Attalus in Rome (two times);
- Maximus in Hispania;
- Marcus, Gratian, Constantine "III" and Constans "II" in Gaul and Britain;
- Jovinus and Sebastianus. Priscus Attalus (d after 416 was twice Roman usurper (in 409 and in 414 against Emperor Honorius, with Visigothic support Maximus was Roman usurper (409 - 411 in Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula - modern Portugal and Spain) Marcus (d 407 was a Roman usurper emperor (406-407 in Roman Britain. Gratian (died 407 was a Roman usurper (407 in Roman Britain. Following the death of usurper Marcus, Gratian was acclaimed as emperor by the army in Constantine III (died 411 by September 18) was a Roman general who declared himself Western Roman Emperor in 407 abdicating in 411 (and being killed Constans was the eldest son of the Roman usurper Constantine III and was appointed co-emperor by him from 409 to 411 Jovinus is a Roman Cognomen, most often used for a 5th century Roman usurper emperor Sebastianus (d 413 a brother of Jovinus, was an aristocrat of southern Gaul.
- Succession to Honorius:
- Joannes and Valentinian III. Joannes or Ioannes was a Roman usurper (423-425 against Valentinian III. Flavius Placidius Valentinianus ( July 2, 419 &ndash March 16, 455) known in English as Valentinian III, was among the last
References
Notes
- ^ While Constantine was in Gaul, his son Constans "II" ruled over Britain. Constans was the eldest son of the Roman usurper Constantine III and was appointed co-emperor by him from 409 to 411
- ^ J. Norwich, Byzantium: The Early Centuries, 131
- ^ J. Norwich, Byzantium: The Early Centuries, 134
- ^ J. Norwich, Byzantium: The Early Centuries, 136
- ^ Procopius, "History of the Wars", book III, section II.
- ^ John Bagnall Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire, 1923 (New York: Dover, 1958), p. 213
External links
Media related to Flavius Augustus Honorius from the Wikimedia Commons.
| Preceded by Theodosius I |
Western Roman Emperor Served alongside: with Constantius III (AD 421) |
Succeeded by Valentinian III |
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