- Arbogast (general)
Flavius Arbogastes (died
September 6 394 ), or Arbogast was a Frankish general in theRoman Empire . It has been stated by some ancient historians that he was the son ofFlavius Bauto , Valentinian II's formermagister militum and protector before Arbogast, but modern scholars largely discount this claim [A.H.M. Jones: The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire] .Life
Little is known of Flavius Arbogastes other than his career as the Western Roman Empire's magister militum following the death of his predecessor, general Flavius Bauto 385. He aided Bauto in defeating the usurper
Magnus Maximus and personally defeated Victor, the usurper's son. At Bauto's death, he was likely hailed as Bauto's replacement by the troops, and this was ratified byTheodosius I under the reign of EmperorValentinian II in 388. Arbogast soon became the "de facto" ruler of the Western Roman Empire, and Valentinian II, age 20, had little say in any matters. Arbogast is personally credited as the mastermind of pagan senatorial uprising in Rome following the academic debates between Christian and pagan senators for generations regarding abandoningChristianity and returning topaganism . After his death his sonArigius succeeded in setting up a hereditary countship in Trier which lasted untilClovis . The county was largely supported by Franks. Arbogastes had an uncle and colleague calledRichomeres and a nephewTheudemeres , who was king of the Franks.Rise to power
Following Valentinian II's death on
May 15 392 , a new leader of the Western Roman Empire was needed. Arbogast, a Frank, was not a pure blooded Roman, and could not be an Emperor.On
August 22 392 , Arbogast, with the support of theRome Senate , electedEugenius , a Christian administrator of Rome with pagan sympathies [Gerard Friell (1998). "Theodosius: The Empire at Bay (Roman Imperial Biographies)". (Routledge; 1 edition (May 28, 1998)). ISBN-10: 0415170400] , as his puppet emperor to appeal to Theodosius I. At the same time of Valentinian II's death, Theodosius named his son Honorius as emperor of the Western Roman Empire. After numerous efforts by the Western Roman Empire to appease Theodosius I following Eugenius's appointment, Theodosius I begun preparing to retake the West from Aborgast and Eugenius.Battle of the Frigidus
On
September 5 394 , Theodosius attacked Arbogast in theBattle of the Frigidus on the banks of the Frigidus (Vipava) River. The battle lasted two days with heavy losses on both sides. OnSeptember 6 , Arbogast committed suicide immediately following his defeat in the Julian Alps. Co-Ruler Emperor Eugenius was killed in his camp on the same day.This civil war ultimately ended pagan Roman senatorial opposition to the Christianization of the Roman Empire.
Rumors
It is widely speculated that Flavius Arbogastes hanged Valentinian II in his villa, however, it was deemed a suicide. Both Valentinian II and Arbogastes frequently disputed rulership over the Western Roman Empire. Likely these allegations were propaganda used by Theodosius I to justify a hostile takeover of the Western Roman Empire for
treason andheresy .Fact|date=February 2007References
Related links
*
Battle of the Frigidus
*Valentinian II
*Theodosius I
*Eugenius
*Flavius Stilicho
*Magnus Maximus External links
* [http://www.roman-emperors.org/eugene.htm Walter E. Roberts of Emory University lectures on Aborgast]
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