Count Theodosius
Encyclopedia
Flavius Theodosius or Theodosius the Elder was a senior military officer serving in the Western Roman Empire
. He achieved the rank of Comes Britanniarum
(Count
of the province of Britannia
) and as such, he is usually referred to as Comes (Count) Theodosius. There is some evidence that his father was called Honorius.
He married his wife Thermantia, probably sometime in the late 330s or early 340s. With her, he had at least two sons, Honorius and Theodosius
, born at Cauca (modern Coca
, Segovia
) in Spain
. The family were orthodox Christians
.
In 368, Theodosius was first raised to the Roman military rank of comes (akin to a general) and sent to the province of Britannia, to repel an invasion by various barbarian tribes
, which he dealt with successfully. Known to have been with him on this expedition were his younger son Theodosius and, in all likelihood, the future usurper Magnus Maximus
. Upon his return, he succeeded Jovinus as the magister equitum praesentalis, at the court of Emperor Valentinian I
, in which capacity he prosecuted another successful campaign against the Alemanni in 370.
In 373, Theodosius was made commander of the expedition to suppress the rebellion of Firmus
in Mauretania
, which proved to be yet another victory for the skilled commander. However, following this latest victory, Theodosius was arrested, taken to Carthage
, and executed in early 376. The reasons for his execution are not clear, but it is thought to have resulted from a factional power struggle in Italy after the sudden death of Valentinian I. Shortly before his execution, Theodosius was baptized
, a common practice at the time, even for lifelong Christians.
Following the elder Theodosius' execution, his son Theodosius
was sent home to the family estates in Gallaecia province. Two years later, however, following the disastrous Roman defeat at the Battle of Adrianople
, the younger Theodosius was rehabilitated, placed in charge of the Roman armies in the eastern half of the empire, and quickly elevated to the rank of Emperor on January 19, 379 following his successes in the field.
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
. He achieved the rank of Comes Britanniarum
Comes Britanniarum
Comes Britanniarum was a military post in Roman Britain, with command of the mobile field army from the mid 4th century onwards.It is listed in the Notitia Dignitatum as being one of the three commands in Britain, along with the Dux Britanniarum and Comes litoris Saxonici...
(Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
of the province of Britannia
Britannia
Britannia is an ancient term for Great Britain, and also a female personification of the island. The name is Latin, and derives from the Greek form Prettanike or Brettaniai, which originally designated a collection of islands with individual names, including Albion or Great Britain. However, by the...
) and as such, he is usually referred to as Comes (Count) Theodosius. There is some evidence that his father was called Honorius.
He married his wife Thermantia, probably sometime in the late 330s or early 340s. With her, he had at least two sons, Honorius and Theodosius
Theodosius I
Theodosius I , also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman Emperor from 379 to 395. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and the western halves of the Roman Empire. During his reign, the Goths secured control of Illyricum after the Gothic War, establishing their homeland...
, born at Cauca (modern Coca
Coca, Segovia
Coca is a municipality in the province of Segovia, central Spain, part of the autonomous community of Castile-Leon. It is located 50 kilometres northwest of the provincial capital city of Segovia, and 60 kilometres from Valladolid. Coca is known for its 15th Century Mudéjar castle...
, Segovia
Segovia (province)
Segovia is a province of central/northern Spain, in the southern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is bordered by the provinces of Burgos, Soria, Guadalajara, Madrid, Ávila, and Valladolid....
) in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The family were orthodox Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
In 368, Theodosius was first raised to the Roman military rank of comes (akin to a general) and sent to the province of Britannia, to repel an invasion by various barbarian tribes
Great Conspiracy
The Great Conspiracy is a term given to a year-long war that occurred in Roman Britain near the end of the Roman occupation of the island. The historian Ammianus Marcellinus described it as a barbarica conspiratio that capitalized on a depleted military force in the province brought about by...
, which he dealt with successfully. Known to have been with him on this expedition were his younger son Theodosius and, in all likelihood, the future usurper Magnus Maximus
Magnus Maximus
Magnus Maximus , also known as Maximianus and Macsen Wledig in Welsh, was Western Roman Emperor from 383 to 388. As commander of Britain, he usurped the throne against Emperor Gratian in 383...
. Upon his return, he succeeded Jovinus as the magister equitum praesentalis, at the court of Emperor Valentinian I
Valentinian I
Valentinian I , also known as Valentinian the Great, was Roman emperor from 364 to 375. Upon becoming emperor he made his brother Valens his co-emperor, giving him rule of the eastern provinces while Valentinian retained the west....
, in which capacity he prosecuted another successful campaign against the Alemanni in 370.
In 373, Theodosius was made commander of the expedition to suppress the rebellion of Firmus
Firmus (4th century usurper)
Firmus was a Roman usurper under Valentinian I.Firmus was the son of the Moorish prince Nubel, a powerful Roman military officer, as well as a wealthy Christian...
in Mauretania
Mauretania
Mauretania is a part of the historical Ancient Libyan land in North Africa. It corresponds to present day Morocco and a part of western Algeria...
, which proved to be yet another victory for the skilled commander. However, following this latest victory, Theodosius was arrested, taken to Carthage
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
, and executed in early 376. The reasons for his execution are not clear, but it is thought to have resulted from a factional power struggle in Italy after the sudden death of Valentinian I. Shortly before his execution, Theodosius was baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
, a common practice at the time, even for lifelong Christians.
Following the elder Theodosius' execution, his son Theodosius
Theodosius I
Theodosius I , also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman Emperor from 379 to 395. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and the western halves of the Roman Empire. During his reign, the Goths secured control of Illyricum after the Gothic War, establishing their homeland...
was sent home to the family estates in Gallaecia province. Two years later, however, following the disastrous Roman defeat at the Battle of Adrianople
Battle of Adrianople
The Battle of Adrianople , sometimes known as the Battle of Hadrianopolis, was fought between a Roman army led by the Roman Emperor Valens and Gothic rebels led by Fritigern...
, the younger Theodosius was rehabilitated, placed in charge of the Roman armies in the eastern half of the empire, and quickly elevated to the rank of Emperor on January 19, 379 following his successes in the field.