The emperor Theodosius I (AD 379–395) was one of the most remarkable figures of the late antique period. In the face of religious schism, political turmoil, and barbarian threats he managed to maintain imperial power and forge a political dynasty that would dominate both east and west for over half a century. This study, the first English language biography in over twenty years, traces his rise to power and tumultuous reign, and examines his indelible impact on a rapidly changing empire.

This thesis examines the official policies pursued by the imperial government towards Gothic tribes under Theodosius I, both those within and without Roman borders, and attempts to identify the interaction between the Roman populace and the Gothic settlers within Roman borders. It also attempts to identify the general attitudes of certain groups within the empire 6 senatorial aristocrats, imperial officials, soldiers, civilians 6 towards the policies pursued by the imperial government. Special weight has been given to those sources that are contemporary with the period. Sources that postdate the period have been employed carefully, with thought given to their biases, indicating where the sack of Rome and the events of the fifth century came to color accounts of the fourth. Finally, much consideration has been given to how religious struggles in the fourth and fifth centuries affected both the accounts of the events and the events themselves.

Theodosius II (AD 408–450) was the longest reigning Roman emperor. Ever since Edward Gibbon, he has been dismissed as mediocre and ineffectual. Yet Theodosius ruled an empire which retained its integrity while the West was broken up by barbarian invasions. This book explores Theodosius' challenges and successes. Ten essays by leading scholars of late antiquity provide important new insights into the court at Constantinople, the literary and cultural vitality of the reign, and the presentation of imperial piety and power. Much attention has been directed towards the changes promoted by Constantine at the beginning of the fourth century; much less to their crystallisation under Theodosius II. This volume explores the working out of new conceptions of the Roman Empire - its history, its rulers and its God. A substantial introduction offers a new framework for thinking afresh about the long transition from the classical world to Byzantium.

This book offers a fantastic history of the 80-year period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire, when it was being besieged at every turn by various barbarian tribes: the Ostrogoths, the Visigoths, the Huns and more. Lecture six of the text is devoted to Attila the Hun and his dealings with the Roman Empire.

Nicasie, Martijn Twilight of Empire. The Roman Army from the Reign of Diocletian until the Battle of Adrianople. 1998 This book discusses the development of the Roman army during the fourth century. The author argues that the Roman army of the fourth century was by no means inferior to its early Imperial counterpart, and in some ways even much superior. Drawing on a wide variety of sources, the book discusses the development of the Roman army in the period immediately preceding the reign of Diocletian, the massive reorganization of the army in the fourth century under Diocletian and Constantine, recruitment and barbariza tion, and the Grand Strategy of the Empire in the fourth century. The final chapter is devoted to an analysis of battlefield tactics and of two important fourth-century battles, the Battle of Strasbourg in 357 and the Battle of Adrianople in 378. DMAHA 19 (1998), 330 p. Cloth. - 66.00 EURO, ISBN: 9050634486

Reproduction of the original: Roman Society by Samuel Dill