Rome, Valentinian-Theodosian Dynasty (364-455), Theodosius II: Britannic Revolt, Death of Stilicho, Anthemius

Britannic Revolt (406-409)

The Britannic army, weakened by troop withdrawals and apparently alarmed that the tribes that were poised to attack Roman Gaul would also invade Britain, proclaimed one of their number, Marcus (fl.406), augustus. When he failed to do what the troops wanted they soon replaced him by a civilian, Gratian (fl.406), who lasted only a few months until the army replaced him by another soldier, ⁵⁴Flavius Claudius Constantinus, the future Constantine III (r.409-411).

Constantine crossed to Gesoriacum (=Boulogne-Sur-Mer) and is thought to have enlisted all the mobile troops in Britain (which would explain their absence in the early fifth century). His advance guard under Justinianus (d.407) and Nebiogastes (d.407) was defeated by the loyalist Gothic officer Sarus (fl.405-413), but their replacements Edobichus (d.411) and Gerontius (fl.407-411), drove him back to Italy. Constantine III secured the Rhine frontier, garrisoned the passes that led from Gaul into Italy, and made Arelate his capital.

Death of Stilicho (408)

Stilicho seems to have been planning to enlist the help of Alaric and his warriors to capture Illyricum prefecture (dioceses of Macedonia and Dacia), which from 395 had been part of the Eastern Empire. Alaric, after the invasion of northern Italy by Radagaisus and the rebellion of Constantine in Britain, realised Stilicho’s Eastern campaign was now unlikely and moved his army westwards to Noricum from where he threatened to invade Italy unless he received a payment of four thousand pounds weight of gold. Under strong pressure from Stilicho, the Roman Senate consented to the payment and a deal was struck in which Alaric and his army were to cross Italy, pick up Roman contingents and attack Constantine II.

Around this time the news arrived that the Eastern emperor Arcadius had died, leaving his seven-year old son Theodosius II as his successor. In August a faction headed by Olympius (fl.408-410/11), Honorius’ magister officiorum (‘master of offices’), raised the troops at Ticinum, alleging that Stilicho was plotting to depose Theodosius II in favour of his own son Eucherius. The enraged army butchered Stilicho’s supporters, and Stilicho at Bologna was left unprotected when Sarus went over to Olympius and overpowered Stilicho’s bodyguards. Eventually, lured from the church in Ravenna where he had taken refuge, Stilicho was executed; His son was also slain.

Anthemius (Constantinople; fl.400-414)

The praetorian prefect at that time of Theodosius II’s succession was ⁵⁵Flavius Anthemius (400-414), who became the first regent of the new reign and made it his personal mission to strengthen the security of the Eastern Empire.

In 408 a delay in grain supplies from Alexandria to Constantinople led to bread riots. Anthemius took responsibility for the Egyptian grain supplies away from the shipowners and transferred it to the naval supply system. Then he sent an embassy to Persia where continued friendship between the two states was confirmed by Yazdegerd-I (r.339-420). 

In the West, however, Uldin and the Huns had crossed the Danube and captured the fortress of Castra Martis in Dacia. In 409 Anthemius drove the Hun army back and to prevent its return placed a permanent flotilla on the river and strengthened the fortifications of the cities in Illyricum. 

He then decided to make Constantinople the most strongly defended city in the world. A great wall, flanked by ninety-six towers formed the innermost line of fortifications along the landward side of the city. However, his plans to extend the seaward fortifications were postponed until 439.