Flavius Stilicho

Quick Facts: Who was Flavius Stilicho?

Subject:

Flavius Stilicho

Known for:

Powerful Roman general who dominated the Western Empire until his downfall in 408 AD.

Born:

359

Died:

408-08-22

Century / Era:

359s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Stilicho (; c. 359 – 22 August 408) was a military commander in the Roman army who, for a time, became the most powerful man in the Western Roman Empire. He was partly of Vandal origins and married to Serena, the niece of emperor Theodosius I. He became guardian for the underage Honorius. After years of struggle against barbarian and Roman enemies, political and military disasters finally allowed his enemies in the court of Honorius to remove him from power. His fall culminated in his arrest and execution in 408. Besides the relevant legal records in the Codex Theodosianus, the major primary source for the events of Stilicho's time, or at least events prior to 404, are the panegyrics addressed to him by the poet Claudian, whom he patronized after the death of Theodosius I. These are likely quite biased and portray Stilicho in a positive light.

Career & Major Achievements

For events after 404, Zosimus is the main source; he derived his information on Stilicho from two prior historians, whose texts he copies faithfully, although in summary. One of these historians, Eunapius, was hostile to Stilicho, and the other, Olympiodorus, was supportive, resulting in a bit of a garbled, contradictory account. Stilicho also maintained correspondence with his friend, the renowned pagan senator Symmachus. Stilicho was the son of a Vandal cavalry officer and a provincial woman of Roman birth. Despite his father's origins, there is little to suggest that Stilicho considered himself anything other than a Roman, and his high rank within the empire suggests that he was probably not an Arian like many Germanic Christians but rather a Nicene Christian like his patron Theodosius I, who declared Nicene Christianity the official religion of the empire.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Stilicho joined the Roman army and rose through the ranks during the reign of Theodosius I, who ruled the Eastern half of the Roman Empire from Constantinople, and who was to become the last emperor to rule both the eastern and western halves of the empire jointly. In 383, Theodosius sent him as a tribunus praetorianus, an office in the branch of military administrators known as the notarii, on an embassy mission to the court of the Persian King Shapur III in Ctesiphon to negotiate a peace settlement relating to the partition of Armenia. Historians have a difficult time explaining exactly what led to his marriage to Serena which occurred after his return to Constantinople at the successful conclusion of peace talks. Claudian claims that Theodosius awarded Stilicho with Serena's hand because of his outstanding achievements, but as Stilicho was actually just a junior member of the embassy and not its leader, nor had he done anything else of note, this is certainly panegyrical publicity. Perhaps the varied duties of the notarii at some point placed Stilicho inside the imperial residence of Constantinople where he encountered Serena and they decided the match themselves, or maybe Theodosius saw a good outcome in tying a young, up-and-coming, half-barbarian general to the imperial household.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 359: Birth of Flavius Stilicho — Powerful Roman general who dominated the Western Empire until his downfall in 408 AD.
2. 408 (0408-08-22): Passing & Historical Legacy — Flavius Stilicho passed away on 0408-08-22, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Notable Quotes by Flavius Stilicho

“When I was raised to heaven disorder... and tumult did I leave behind me. The army was still drawing the forbidden sword in that Alpine war, and conquerors and conquered gave alternate cause for dissension. Scarce could this madness have been calmed by my vigilance, much less by a boy's rule... 'Twas then that Stilicho took my place...”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Flavius Stilicho

True or False: “Stilicho was ethnically pure Roman and never had Vandal ancestry.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The text explicitly states he was the son of a Vandal cavalry officer, despite his high rank suggesting otherwise.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Flavius Stilicho