347
Origins
Theodosius was born into a Roman military family in Hispania.
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Theodosius I
Theodosius I was a Roman emperor who made Nicene Christianity central to imperial power and was the last to rule both eastern and western halves.
- Born
- 347 CE
- Died
- 395 CE
- Role
- Roman emperor
Roman emperor (347-395)
Facts
Theodosius I timeline facts
Selected specifics from this profile's life story.
- 347
- Origins
- 379
- Imperial rise
- 390s
- Civil wars
- 395
- Legacy
Theodosius was born into a Roman military family in Hispania.
He became emperor in the East after disaster and instability.
He defeated rivals and briefly ruled both halves of the Roman Empire.
After his death, the empire was permanently divided between his sons.
Life Journey
Why Theodosius I matters
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379
Imperial rise
He became emperor in the East after disaster and instability.
380s
Christian empire
He promoted Nicene Christianity and restricted rival religious traditions.
390s
Civil wars
He defeated rivals and briefly ruled both halves of the Roman Empire.
395
Legacy
After his death, the empire was permanently divided between his sons.
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Connected stories
Move from the profile into the wider events and settings this figure belongs to.
Related figures
Gothic settlement
Alaric
Alaric rose from the Gothic military world shaped by Theodosius I's settlements with Gothic forces.
Christian empire
Constantine the Great
Constantine the Great began the imperial Christian turn later consolidated by Theodosius I.
Christian Roman empire
Justinian I
Justinian I inherited and intensified the Christian imperial framework established under Theodosius I.
Late Roman world
Attila the Hun
Attila the Hun threatened the late Roman order that had been reshaped under Theodosius I.
Tertiary paths
Content note
This profile is written for educational use and connects to related Stories of History pages. Illustrations are original artistic interpretations.
Related figures
Gothic settlement
Alaric
Alaric rose from the Gothic military world shaped by Theodosius I's settlements with Gothic forces.
Christian empire
Constantine the Great
Constantine the Great began the imperial Christian turn later consolidated by Theodosius I.
Christian Roman empire
Justinian I
Justinian I inherited and intensified the Christian imperial framework established under Theodosius I.
Late Roman world
Attila the Hun
Attila the Hun threatened the late Roman order that had been reshaped under Theodosius I.
