Theodosius Defeats Maximus, and New Bishops in the Great Sees

While Theodosius was preparing for war against Maximus, his son Honorius was born. When these preparations for war were complete, he left his son Arcadius to govern at Constantinople and went to Thessalonica, where he received Valentinian. He would neither openly dismiss the embassy sent by Maximus nor give it an audience, but went on at the head of his troops toward Italy. [a]

About this time Agelius, bishop of the Novatians at Constantinople, feeling his end approaching, named Sisinnius, one of the presbyters of his church, as his successor. But the people grumbled that the preference had not gone instead to Marcian, who was known for his godliness. So Agelius ordained him, and spoke to the people gathered in the church in these words: “After me you will have Marcian as your bishop, and after him, Sisinnius.” Agelius died soon after he had spoken these words. He had governed his church for forty years with the greatest approval of his own heretical party, and some say that in the times of pagan persecution he had openly confessed the name of Christ.

Not long afterward Timothy and Cyril died. Theophilus succeeded to the see of Alexandria, and John to that of Jerusalem. Demophilus, leader of the Arians at Constantinople, also died. He was succeeded by Marinus of Thrace, but Marinus was set aside in favor of Dorotheus, who soon arrived from Antioch in Syria and was considered by his sect better fitted for the office than Marinus. [b]

Meanwhile Theodosius had entered Italy, and conflicting reports spread about the success of his campaign. The Arians spread the rumor that most of his army had been cut to pieces in battle and that he himself had been captured by the tyrant. Taking this report as true, these sectarians grew bold, ran to the house of Nectarius, and set it on fire, out of anger at the power the bishop had gained over the churches. But the emperor accomplished his purpose in the war. The soldiers of Maximus, driven either by fear of the preparations made against them or by treachery, seized the tyrant and killed him. As soon as Andragathius, the murderer of Gratian, heard of the death of Maximus, he leaped into the river in his armor and perished. So the war was ended and Gratian’s death avenged. Theodosius, accompanied by Valentinian, celebrated a triumph in Rome and restored order in the churches of Italy, for the empress Justina was dead. [c]