| Eugenius | |
|---|---|
.png) Tremissis depicting Eugenius, marked:d·n· eugeniusp·f·aug· | |
| Roman emperor in theWest (unrecognized in theEast) | |
| Reign | 22 August 392 – 6 September 394 |
| Predecessor | Valentinian II |
| Successor | Theodosius I |
| Died | 6 September 394 Frigidus River |
| Religion | Christianity |
Eugenius (died 6 September 394) was aWestern Roman emperor from 392 to 394, unrecognized by theEastern Roman emperorTheodosius I. WhileChristian himself, Eugenius capitalized on the discontent in the West caused by Theodosius'religious policies targeting pagans. He renovated the paganTemple of Venus and Roma and restored theAltar of Victory after continued petitions from theRoman Senate. Eugenius replaced Theodosius' administrators with men loyal to him. This included pagans, reviving the pagan cause. His army fought the army of Theodosius at theBattle of the Frigidus, where he was captured and executed.
A Christian and former teacher of grammar and rhetoric,[1] as well asmagister scriniorum,[2] Eugenius had become an acquaintance ofArbogast, themagister militum, after being introduced to him by Arbogast's uncleRichomeres.[3][2] Arbogast was ofFrankish origin andde facto ruler of the western portion of the Empire.[2][4]
Three months after the death ofValentinian II,[3] Eugenius was elevated toaugustus on 22 August 392 at Lyons, byArbogast.[2][5] Deferring to Eugenius offered Arbogast two strong advantages: first, Eugenius, a Roman and Christian, was more suitable than Arbogast, a Frank and pagan, as anAugustus;[2] furthermore, the Roman Senate would be more likely to support Eugenius.[3]
After being installed as Emperor, Eugenius changed the imperial administrators. When Theodosius had left the western half of the empire to Valentinian II, he had put his own men in the highest civil offices, to keep a strong grasp on the whole empire. Eugenius replaced these administrators with others loyal to himself, coming from the senatorial class.Virius Nicomachus Flavianus the Elder becamepraetorian prefect,[6] his sonNicomachus Flavianus the Younger received the title ofpraefectus urbi, while the newpraefectus annonae was Numerius Proiectus.[3]
Though his actual beliefs are a matter of controversy among ancient and modern historians, Eugenius was at least publicly a Christian.[2][4] Pagan senators convinced Eugenius to use public money to fund pagan projects, such as the rededication of theTemple of Venus and Roma and the restoration of theAltar of Victory within theCuria.[6] Eugenius' appointment of Nicomachus Flavianus, a pagan, as Praetorian Prefect of Italy, revived the pagan cause.[6] These religious policies created tension with pro-Christian figures, such as Emperor Theodosius and the powerful and influential BishopAmbrose, who left his see inMilan when the imperial court of Eugenius arrived.[7]
Eugenius was also successful in the military field, notably in the renovation of old alliances withAlamanni and Franks, even marching to theRhine frontier, where he impressed and pacified the Germanic tribes by parading his army in front of them.[8] After this display, he recruited Alamannic and Frankish units for his army.[9]
After his election as emperor, Eugenius sent two embassies to Theodosius's court, asking for recognition of his election.[2] Theodosius received them, but both embassies were given vague responses and returned without completing their missions.[2] In January 393, Theodosius promoted his eight-year-old sonHonorius to the rank ofAugustus of the West, indicating he considered Eugenius' elevation illegitimate.[10][2]
Following the news of Honorius' elevation toAugustus, Eugenius and Arbogast marched their army, stripped from the Rhine frontier,[11] into Italy in the spring of 393.[10] Theodosius then moved from Constantinople with his army, and met Eugenius and Arbogast at theBattle of the Frigidus in theVipava Valley,[12] on 6 September 394.[5] The bloody battle lasted two days, and was marked by unusually strong winds, and ended with a victory for Theodosius' forces.[13] Eugenius was captured and executed,[14] and his head was displayed in Theodosius' camp.[15][3] Arbogast committed suicide the next day.[14][16]
Media related toEugenius at Wikimedia Commons| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Roman emperor 392–394 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by | Roman consul 393 | Succeeded by |
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