by Valerius Claudius Iohanes on Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:56 am
The following timeline is drawn from Wikipedia as a source and its accuracy is disputable. But per our SVR calendar, this Sunday is the date that the Emperor Theodosius ordered traditional Roman religionists converted or imprisoned and tortured. Not a red-letter day.... And so I had to review the reign of this Intolerant Emperor.
Summary of the Sad Reign of Theodosius I
379 AD Theodosius I is elevated as Roman Emperor at Sirmium.
Gratianus (existing Emperor in the West) refuses the title of Eastern Emperor.
Gratian renounces the title pontifex maximus.
380 AD Emperor Theodosius I is baptized.
Theodosius, with co-emperors Gratianus and Valentinian II, declare their wish that all their peoples convert to trinitarian Christianity.
This is an implicit outlawing of the Arianism of the patriarch of Constantinople as heretical.
Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal entry, into Constantinople.
381 AD A deputation from the Roman Senate delivers to Gratianus the robe of the Pontifex Maximus, which has been worn by every Roman Emperor since Augustus. He refuses to accept this insignia, insulting the pagan aristocrats of Rome.
382 AD Theodosius I commands his general Saturninus to conclude a peace treaty with the Visigoths, allowing them to settle south of the Danube.
Christians who do not recognise Trinitarianism are persecuted.
Gratian officially moves the capital of the Western Empire from Rome to Mediolanum.
The Visigoths, although defeated by Theodosius, are installed as foederati in Moesia and Thrace with the title of "Allies of the Roman People", under the condition that they furnish a contingent of auxiliary troops to defend the borders.
Alaric I becomes king of the Visigoths.
383 AD Gratianus is assassinated. Arcadius is elevated to Emperor.
Magnus Maximus proclaimed Emperor by troops in Britain. He crosses over to the continent and makes Trier his capital. Gaul, the Italian provinces and Hispania also proclaim loyalty to him.
Theodosius calls the First Council of Constantinople (some authorities date this council to 381), a general council to affirm and extend the Nicene creed, and denounce Arianism and Apollinarism. Most trinitarian Christian churches consider this an Ecumenical council.
The schismatic Eunomian heresy was formally condemned by the Council of Constantinople. Eunomius of Cyzicus is banished to Moesia.
384 AD The Forum of Theodosius I is built in Constantinople.
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus becomes urban prefect of Rome.
An edict of Theodosius closes pagan temples in the Nile Valley.
Stilicho marries Serena, the niece of Theodosius.
385 AD Theodosius' wife and daughter both die.
The Serapeum in Alexandria is destroyed.
Pope Siricius proclaims the primacy of Rome and the priestly obligation of celibacy.
Priscillian, Spanish theologian, the first person in the history of Christianity to be executed for heresy
386 AD Priscillian, Spanish theologian, becomes the first person in the history of Christianity to be executed for heresy.
Theodosius I concludes peace with Persia, dividing Armenia between them.
Theodosius I begins to rebuild the present-day Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.
Maximus invades Italy, driving out Valentinian II, who takes refuge with Theodosius.
A column is constructed in Constantinople to celebrate of a victory of Theodosius I.
Augustine converts to Christianity. He ends his marriage plans after hearing a sermon on the life of St. Anthony.
The fight in the Roman Empire against anti-pagan laws becomes increasingly futile.
387 AD
The widowed Emperor Theodosius I marries Galla, sister of his colleague Valentinian II.
Saint Augustine is baptized by Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan.
388 AD The rebellion of Magnus Maximus is put down at the Battle of the Save, and Valentinian II is restored as Western Roman Emperor.
A group of Christians storms the synagogue of the city Callinicum, at the river Euphrates, and destroys it.
St. Jerome moves to Palestine, where he will live out his life.
389 AD All pagan buildings in Alexandria, including the library, are destroyed on the order of Theodosius.
Theodosius I bans the worship of Vesta.
389 AD All pagan buildings in Alexandria, including the library, are destroyed on the order of Theodosius.
Theodosius I bans the worship of Vesta.
390 AD In response to the murder of his general Butheric, Theodosius I orders a massacre of the inhabitants of Thessalonica. Appalled by the brutality of this action, Ambrose excommunicates him. Theodosius humiliates and scourges himself publicly as penance.
391 AD All non-Christian temples in the Empire are closed, as Theodosius establishes Christianity as the official state religion.
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus is urban prefect in Rome, and petitions Theodosius I to re-open the pagan temples. He is opposed by Ambrose.
392 AD Arbogast elevates Eugenius as Emperor, after the mysterious death of Valentinian II in Gaul.
Theodosius I issues an edict reinforcing the prohibition of prayers or sacrifices at non-Christian temples.
393 AD Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius Augustus.
Theodosius I outlaws the Olympic Games, ending a thousand years of festivals.
394 AD Battle of the Frigidus: Emperor Theodosius I defeats and kills the usurper Eugenius and his Frankish magister militum Arbogast.
The sacred fire of the Roman Empire stops burning (see Vesta and Vestal Virgins).
395 AD Theodosius, extremist Trinitarian Christian emperor, dies.
After his death of emperor Theodosius I, the Empire is once again divided into an East and West.
- The eastern half is centered in Constantinople under Arcadius, son of Theodosius I;
- The western half in Rome under Honorius, his brother.
Alaric the Visigoth, general of the foederati, renounces Roman fealty and is declared king, ending a 16-year period of peace between Romans and Visigoths.
The Visigoths, led by Alaric, invade and devastate Thrace and Macedonia, impose a tribute on Athens.
396 AD
The Eleusinian Mysteries come to an end, but not by the Emperor's hand: this disaster is committed by Alaric and the Visigoths as they destroy the ancient Eleusinian sites in Greece.
Stilicho campaigns to menace the Visigoths, but does not engage them.
The Visigoths then turn their sights on the West.
Valerius Claudius Iohannes
Curator anno MMDCCLXII
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