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Honorius
Short Biography
about the life of Honorius
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of
Honorius, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.
Name commonly known as: Honorius *** Latin Roman Name: Flavius
Honorius Augustus *** Reigned as Roman Emperor /
Caesar: 23 January 393 - 395 as Augustus under his father and
395 - August 15, 423 as emperor in the west, with his
brother, Arcadius in
the east *** Dynasty / Historical Period:
The Valentinian dynasty (364 - 394) derives its name from the first
of the dynasty's Emperors - Valentinian I. Orthodox Christianity
became the officially tolerated variant of the faith and the Empire
became irrevocably split into two halves. *** Place and Date of Birth: Born
September 9, 384 in Spain *** Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Honorius was
Theodosius I *** Family connections / Genealogy
*** Name of Father: Theodosius I *** Name of Mother: Aelia
Flaccilla *** Married: Maria and
Thermantia
Place and Date of Death:
Died August 15, 423 (aged 38)
***
For the names of the next
Roman emperors in the East and the West of the Empire refer to the
Timeline of
Roman Emperors
Interesting facts
about the life of Honorius
Obtain a fast overview of the times of the Roman Emperor
Honorius from the following facts and information about his life.
Why was Honorius famous? Accomplishments, achievements
and important events. Honorius was the younger son of
Theodosius I and Aelia Flaccilla. His older brother was
called Arcadius. The sons of Theodosius I were, like almost
all the children of the Roman Emperors, vain and weak
and thoroughly spoiled by growing up as princes. Honorius
who was only eleven, reigned at Rome under the care of
Stilicho, who was by birth a Vandal, one of those Teutonic
nations who were living all round the northern bounds of the
empire, and whose sons came to serve in the Roman armies and
learn Roman habits. Stilicho was brave and faithful, and
almost belonged to the imperial family, for his wife Serena
was niece to Theodosius, and his daughter Maria was
betrothed to the young Honorius. Stilicho was a very active,
spirited man, who found troops to check the enemies of Rome
on all sides of the Western Empire.
The
Reign of Honorius - Alaric the Goth
The brother of Honorius, Arcadius, asked for help
against the Goths. Stilicho, the commander of Honorius,
marched through Thrace and quelled the Goths. Arcadius grew
afraid of Stilicho, sent him back to
Italy with many gifts and promises,
and engaged Alaric the Goth to be
the guardian of his empire, not only
against the wild tribes, but against
his brother and Stilicho. Alaric
seized his chance again and led his
forces through the Alps into Italy,
and showed himself before the gates
of Milan.
The weak boy Honorius was
taken for safety to Ravenna, while Stilicho gathered all the
troops from Gaul, and left Britain unguarded by Roman
soldiers, to protect the heart of the empire. With these he
attacked Alaric, and gained a great victory at Pollentia.
The Goths retreated. Stilicho followed and beat them again
at Verona in June 403, driving them out of Italy.
The
Reign of Honorius - Telemachus and the End of the Gladiators
It was the last Roman victory, and it was
celebrated by the last Roman triumph. There had been three
hundred triumphs of Roman generals, but it was Honorius who
entered Rome in the car of victory and was taken to the
Capitol, and afterwards there were games in the amphitheatre
as usual and fights of gladiators. In the midst of the
bloodshed a voice was heard bidding it to cease in the name
of Christ, and between the swords there was seen standing a
monk in his dark brown dress, holding up his hand and
keeping back the blows. He was stoned by the outraged 'mob'
and killed. It was found that he was an Egyptian
monk named Telemachus, newly come to Rome. No one knew any
more about him, but this noble death of his in 404AD put an end to
shows of gladiators as three days after his death the
Emperor issued a decree that the gladiatorial games were to
stop. Chariot races and games went on, though
the good and thoughtful disapproved of the wild excitement
they caused; but the terrible sports of death and blood were
ended for ever. The last known gladiatorial fight therefore took place
during the reign of Honorius.
The
Reign of Honorius - Alaric and the Sack of Rome
Alaric had been driven back for a time, but there
were swarms of Germans who were breaking in where the line
of boundary had been left undefended by the soldiers being
called away to fight the Goths. A fierce heathen chief named
Radegaisus advanced with at least 200,000 men as far as
Florence, but was there beaten by the brave Stilicho, and
was put to death, while the other prisoners were sold into
slavery. Stilicho was nor trusted by the Emperor Honorius or
the people and was then put to death. And at that very time
Alaric was crossing the Alps. There was no one to make any
resistance. Honorius was at Ravenna, safe behind walls.
Alaric encamped outside the walls of Rome, but he did not
attempt to break in, waiting till the Romans should be
starved out. When they had come to terrible distress, they
offered to ransom their city. The ransom the Romans agreed
to pay was 5000 pounds' weight of gold and 30,000 of silver,
4000 silk robes, 3000 pieces of scarlet cloth, and 3000
pounds of pepper. They stripped the roof of the temple in
the Capitol, and melted down the images of the old gods to
raise the sum, and Alaric drew off his men; but he came
again the next year, blocked up Ostia, and starved them
faster. This time he brought a man named Attalus, whom he
ordered them to admit as Emperor, and they did so; but as
the governor of Africa would send no corn while this man
reigned, the people rose and drove him out, and thus for the
third time brought Alaric down on them. The gates were
opened to him at night, and he entered Rome on the 24th of
August, 410.
The
Death of Honorius
Honorius continued to live his idle life at
Ravenna and the Pope came back and helped them to put
matters into order again. Alaric promised to protect the
empire for Honorius, and led his tribe away from Italy to
Spain, which they conquered. They were therefore known as
the Visigoths, or Western Goths. Honorius only remained at
Ravenna by the support of the kings of the Teutonic tribes.
Honorius did not care, as long as he was left alone.
Honorius died of dropsy in 423, after thirty-seven years of
a wretched reign, leaving no heir. In the subsequent
interregnum Ioannes, the Chief Secretary, was nominated
emperor. In 424 the Eastern Emperor Theodosius II elected
emperor his cousin Valentinian III, the son of Constantius
III restoring the legitimate dynasty.
Honorius
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