Theodosius I

Roman emperor from 379 to 395

b. 11 Jan 347 · d. 17 Jan 395

Theodosius I, also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman emperor from 379 to 395. He won two civil wars and was instrumental in establishing the Nicene Creed as the orthodox doctrine for Nicene Christianity. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule the entire Roman Empire. After his death, his sons Arcadius and Honorius ruled from separate courts in the east and the west, continuing the late Roman practice of rule by multiple emperors. He ended the Gothic War (376–382), but did so on terms disadvantageous to the empire, with the Goths remaining politically autonomous within Roman territory, albeit as nominal allies.

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How we know

Recorded as a historical figure.

  • Letters, and the funeral orations 2 claims — The massacre at Thessalonica; Theodosius does public penance at Milan
  • Codex Theodosianus (book XVI) 1 claim — Edict of Thessalonica
  • The Seven Ecumenical Councils (NPNF series 2 vol. 14) 1 claim — First Council of Constantinople
  • Ecclesiastical History 1 claim — The destruction of the Serapeum at Alexandria

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Wikipedia