Arcadius

Lore & Background

Arcadius ascended the throne at age 17, but real power lay with his praetorian prefect, Rufinus, who effectively governed the East. Rufinus's rivalry with the Western magister militum Stilicho led to a power struggle after Theodosius's death. In 395, Alaric and his Visigoths rebelled, ravaging Thrace and Macedonia. Rufinus attempted to negotiate with Alaric, but his influence waned. In November 395, Rufinus was murdered by Gainas, a Gothic general in Roman service, an event that some ancient sources claim was orchestrated by Stilicho, though this remains a matter of scholarly debate.

Reader's Guide

Arcadius's reign is significant primarily for the pattern of weak imperial authority it established in the Eastern Roman Empire. His inability to govern independently allowed a succession of ministers—Rufinus, Eutropius, and later his wife Eudoxia—to wield effective power. This internal instability hampered the empire's response to external threats, most notably the Gothic revolt of Alaric I, which was left unchecked for years. The murder of Rufinus and the later fall of Eutropius illustrate the violent and shifting nature of court politics. Arcadius's reign also saw a deterioration of relations between the eastern and western imperial courts, as seen in the dispute over Stilicho's authority and the defection of the African commander Gildo. His legacy is that of a ruler whose personal weakness shaped the political and military challenges of the early 5th century.

Did You Know?

• Arcadius was the first Eastern Roman emperor to never visit the Western Empire during his reign.
• His wife, Aelia Eudoxia, was a powerful empress who often clashed with John Chrysostom, the Patriarch of Constantinople.
• Arcadius's reign saw the construction of the Arcadian Column in Constantinople, commemorating his victory over the Goths in 400.
• He died of illness at age 31, leaving his young son Theodosius II as emperor under the regency of the praetorian prefect Anthemius.