The Death of Valentinian and the Usurper Eugenius

While Theodosius was occupied in this way with the wise and peaceful government of his subjects in the East and with the service of God, news came that Valentinian had been strangled. Some say that he was put to death by the eunuchs of the bedchamber, at the urging of Arbogast, a military commander, and of certain courtiers. They were displeased because the young prince had begun to follow in his father’s footsteps in matters of government, contrary to the views they favored. Others, however, claim that Valentinian did the deed with his own hands, because he found himself hindered in attempting things that are not lawful at his age; and for this reason he did not think life worth living, since, although he was emperor, he was not allowed to do what he wished. It is said that the boy was noble in appearance and excellent in the bearing of a ruler, and that if he had lived to manhood he would have shown himself worthy to hold the reins of empire and would have surpassed his father in greatness of spirit and in justice. But for all these promising qualities, he died in the way described. [a]

A certain man named Eugenius, who was by no means sincere in professing Christianity, reached for the throne and took up the emblems of imperial power. He hoped to succeed in the attempt safely, for he was led on by the predictions of people who claimed to foresee the future by examining the entrails and livers of animals and by the course of the stars. Men of the highest rank among the Romans were given to these superstitions. Flavian, who was then a praetorian prefect, a learned man who seemed to have a gift for politics, was known to be versed in every means of foretelling the future. He persuaded Eugenius to take up arms by assuring him that he was destined for the throne, that his military undertakings would be crowned with victory, and that the Christian religion would be abolished. Deceived by these flattering promises, Eugenius raised an army and took possession of the gates into Italy, as the Romans call the Julian Alps, a high and steep mountain range. He seized and fortified them in advance, for they had only one path through the narrows and were shut in on each side by cliffs and towering mountains. [c]

Theodosius was uncertain whether he ought to wait for the course of the war to show itself, or whether it would be better to attack Eugenius first. In this difficulty he decided to consult John, a monk of the Thebaid, who, as I have said before, was famous for his knowledge of the future. So he sent Eutropius, a eunuch of the palace of proven loyalty, to Egypt, with orders to bring John to court if possible, but if he refused, to learn what ought to be done. When Eutropius came to John, the monk could not be persuaded to go to the emperor. But he sent word by Eutropius that the war would end in Theodosius’s favor and that the tyrant would be killed, but that after the victory Theodosius himself would die in Italy. Both these predictions were proved true by events.