DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0363
Africa under the later Emperors 289
D • N • FL • THEODOSIO PER
PETVO AC VICTO
RI SEMPER AVG ORDO
SPLENDIDISSIMVS
COL • KALAMENSIVM
LOCAVIT DEDICAVIT
According to a statement by Aurelius Victor, this distin-
guished prince was blessed with many virtues and debased
by no vicious propensities. He died at Milan at the close
of an eventful reign of sixteen years—a good ruler, a tender
father, a loving husband.
In the division of the Empire between Arcadius and
Honorius, the elder brother acquired the Eastern dominions
and the younger the Western. This was in accordance with
the policy initiated by Diocletian and accepted by Constantine
the Great and his successors. The capital of Arcadius was
the newly erected city of Constantine, now rising in all its
splendour, and destined to play a larger part in the drama of
national life than its great founder ever contemplated. The
capital of Honorius was to be once again the Roman metropolis,
which Diocletian and his successors had neglected in favour
of Milan as a more convenient military centre. Italy, Spain,
Africa, and Gaul were thus placed under the rule of Honorius.
Britain, hitherto regarded as an important appendage of the
Empire of the West, played no part in its history at the close
of the fourth century. Its remoteness by land and sea had
checked the enthusiasm which prompted so many Emperors,
from Julius Caesar to Constantius, to convert the island into
a Roman province. Under Honorius Roman Britain almost
ceased to exist, and the last of the legions which had preserved
England from the barbarism of the northern tribes was pre-
paring to cross the Channel into the fair land of the Gauls.
The history of Africa during the twenty-seven years' effeminate
rule of Honorius is almost a blank, relieved only by an insur-
rection which caused great anxiety to so timid a potentate.
Gildon, a Moor of distinction and a brother of Firmus, raised
the standard of revolt soon after the Emperor ascended the
throne, and with an army of 70,000 men was making prepara-
tions for a decisive encounter with the Roman legions. But
ill-success attended his efforts. His troops were routed, and
U
D • N • FL • THEODOSIO PER
PETVO AC VICTO
RI SEMPER AVG ORDO
SPLENDIDISSIMVS
COL • KALAMENSIVM
LOCAVIT DEDICAVIT
According to a statement by Aurelius Victor, this distin-
guished prince was blessed with many virtues and debased
by no vicious propensities. He died at Milan at the close
of an eventful reign of sixteen years—a good ruler, a tender
father, a loving husband.
In the division of the Empire between Arcadius and
Honorius, the elder brother acquired the Eastern dominions
and the younger the Western. This was in accordance with
the policy initiated by Diocletian and accepted by Constantine
the Great and his successors. The capital of Arcadius was
the newly erected city of Constantine, now rising in all its
splendour, and destined to play a larger part in the drama of
national life than its great founder ever contemplated. The
capital of Honorius was to be once again the Roman metropolis,
which Diocletian and his successors had neglected in favour
of Milan as a more convenient military centre. Italy, Spain,
Africa, and Gaul were thus placed under the rule of Honorius.
Britain, hitherto regarded as an important appendage of the
Empire of the West, played no part in its history at the close
of the fourth century. Its remoteness by land and sea had
checked the enthusiasm which prompted so many Emperors,
from Julius Caesar to Constantius, to convert the island into
a Roman province. Under Honorius Roman Britain almost
ceased to exist, and the last of the legions which had preserved
England from the barbarism of the northern tribes was pre-
paring to cross the Channel into the fair land of the Gauls.
The history of Africa during the twenty-seven years' effeminate
rule of Honorius is almost a blank, relieved only by an insur-
rection which caused great anxiety to so timid a potentate.
Gildon, a Moor of distinction and a brother of Firmus, raised
the standard of revolt soon after the Emperor ascended the
throne, and with an army of 70,000 men was making prepara-
tions for a decisive encounter with the Roman legions. But
ill-success attended his efforts. His troops were routed, and
U