Arcadius

Arcadius (Latin: Flavius Arcadius Augustus; Greek: Ἀρκάδιος; 377/378 – 1 May 408) was Roman Emperor from 395 until his death in 408. He was the eldest son of Theodosius I and Aelia Flaccilla, and brother of Honorius, who was the emperor of the Western Roman Empire. His reign was marked by the division of the Roman Empire into the Western and Eastern Roman Empires, with Arcadius ruling the East. Despite being the ruler of the Eastern empire, Arcadius' reign is often characterized by his lack of personal initiative and heavy reliance on his advisors, particularly the Praetorian Prefect Rufinus and later, the eunuch Eutropius.

Early Life

Arcadius was born in Hispania, the province of the Roman Empire in what is now Spain, in 377 or 378. He was the first son of Theodosius I, who would later become the emperor of the entire Roman Empire, and his first wife Aelia Flaccilla. Arcadius was raised to the rank of Augustus, a co-emperor, in January 383, when he was only about five years old, as part of his father's efforts to secure the succession.

Reign

Following the death of Theodosius I in 395, the empire was divided between Arcadius and his younger brother Honorius, with Arcadius inheriting the eastern provinces. This division was intended to be administrative, but it eventually led to the permanent division of the Roman Empire. Arcadius' reign in the East was marked by a series of powerful court officials who effectively controlled the government. His early reign saw the influence of Rufinus, until Rufinus' assassination in 395. Afterwards, Eutropius gained prominence, becoming the first eunuch to hold the title of consul in 399.

The most significant event of his reign was the Gothic War, which had begun during his father's reign. Although the Goths had been settled within the empire's borders by Theodosius, they rebelled, leading to significant conflicts within the Eastern Empire. Arcadius' handling of the situation was largely seen as ineffective, contributing to the perception of his weak leadership.

Another notable aspect of Arcadius' reign was the rise of Christianity within the empire. He continued his father's policy of promoting Christianity and suppressing paganism, including the closing of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Arcadius also had a significant impact on the administrative and legal structures of the Eastern Empire, which would later evolve into the Byzantine Empire.

Death and Succession

Arcadius died on 1 May 408, after a short illness. He was succeeded by his son, Theodosius II, who was only seven years old at the time, leading to a regency initially led by the empress Aelia Eudoxia, Arcadius' wife, and later by the Praetorian Prefect Anthemius. Arcadius' death marked the continuation of the trend of a divided empire, which would persist until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the late 5th century.

Legacy

Arcadius' reign is often seen as a period of decline for the Eastern Roman Empire, with the emperor himself viewed as a weak ruler. However, his reign also laid the groundwork for the transformation of the Eastern Roman Empire into the Byzantine Empire, which would endure for another thousand years. His policies and the administrative reforms initiated during his reign would have a lasting impact on the Byzantine state.