Honorius, Western Roman Emperor

Honorius Roman emperor Honorius, was Western Roman Emperor from 395 to 423. He was the younger son of emperor Theodosius I and his first wife Aelia Flaccilla, and brother of Arcadius, who was the Byzantine Emperor from 395 until his death in 408. Wikipedia Born: September 9, 384 AD, Constantinople, Turkey Died: August 15, 423 AD, Ravenna, Italy Books: The Old Norse Elucidarius The Old Norse Elucidarius This translation, the first into contemporary American English, is based on the complete edition of all surviving fragments on deposit in the Arnamagnaean Institute in Copenhagen. ... Google Books Author: Honorius

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elucidarium

Spouse: Thermantia (m. 408 AD), Maria (m. 398 AD–407 AD) Parents: Theodosius I, Aelia Flaccilla Siblings: Arcadius, Galla Placidia

He had two wives, but had no children

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorius_(emperor)

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ITALY,%20Kings%20to%20962.htm#_Toc2...

THEODOSIUS I 379-395, HONORIUS 395-423

Two brothers, parents not known:

• 1. THEODOSIUS (-beheaded early 376). A general under the service of Emperor Valentinian I, he was decapitated by Emperor Gratian[49]. m THERMANTIA, daughter of ---. The Pauli Historiæ Romanæ names "Theodosius genitus patre Theodosio matre Thermantia"[50]. Theodosius & his wife had one child:
  • a) THEODOSIUS (Cauca, near Valladolid 11 Jan 347-Milan 17 Jan 395, bur 8 Nov 395 Constantinople) ... m firstly (end 376) PLACILLA, daughter of --- (-Autumn 386). Theophanes names "Placilla" as the first wife of "magnus Theodosius"[60]. Iordanes names "Flacilla" as the first wife of Emperor Theodosius, recording that she died before his second marriage[61]. The Pauli Historiæ Romanæ also names "Flacilla" as the first wife of Emperor Theodosius[62]. m secondly (387) GALLA, daughter of Emperor VALENTINIAN I & his second wife Justina --- (-May 394). ... Emperor Theodosius & his first wife had three children:
    • i) ARCADIUS (end 377-1 May 408). ... - EMPERORS in the EAST.
    • ii) HONORIUS (Constantinople 9 Sep 384-15 Aug 423). Theophanes names "Arcadius…et Honorius" as the sons of "magnus Theodosius" and his first wife[71]. The Chronicon Paschale records the birth "V Id Sep" in 384 of "Honorius, Arcadii germanus frater"[72]. The Chronicon of Bishop Idatius records the birth in 384 of “Honorius filius Theodosii”[73]. Iordanes names "Archadium Honoriumque" as the children of Emperor Theodosius & his first wife, recording in a later passage that they later divided the empire with his brother, Honorius ruling in Rome[74]. His father proclaimed him co-Emperor HONORIUS at Constantinople 10 Jan 393, he ruled as Emperor in the West after the death of his father in 395. m firstly (398) MARIA, daughter of STILICO & his wife Serena --- (-[Feb/Mar] 407). Zosimus records that "Honorio principi" married "Stelicho…filiam…ex Serena", naming her "Mariam" in a later passage[75]. Iordanes records that "Stilico…comis…duæ filiæ Maria et Hermantia" were both wives of Emperor Honorius but died as virgins[76]. m secondly (408, repudiated end 408) HERMANTIA, daughter of STILICO & his wife Serena --- (-415). Zosimus records that "Imperator…Honorius" married "sororem eius Thermantiam" after the death of "Maria coniuge"[77]. Iordanes records that "Stilico…comis…duæ filiæ Maria et Hermantia" were both wives of Emperor Honorius but died as virgins[78]. The Chronicle of Marcellinus also names the two sisters and records the same information[79].
• 2. HONORIUS . Claudius names "Honorius" as father of "Serena" in his poem Laus Serenæ[91]. m MARIA, daughter of ---. Claudius names "Flaccillam Mariam" as mother of "Serena" in his poem Laus Serenæ[92]. Honorius & his wife had two children:
  • ...

Quora: What is the stupidest thing done by a Roman Emperor? Emperor Honorius was an idiot Honorius was one of the last “major” emperors of the Western Roman Empire. He ruled for a long time from 393 - 423 which is much longer than the average 7 years emperors reigned for.

He oversaw the collapse of his Empire. He witnessed it slowly decline into a failed shell of its former self. Worse yet- he did nothing to stop it.

Flavius Stilicho was the last great Roman leader (or one of the last). He was a brilliant general who saved Italy 2 times at least. He personally saved Honorius twice and negotiated a decades-long peace with the Sassanid Persians.

Stilicho really tried to save the empire. He wasn’t out for wealth or fame- he just really wanted to save Rome. He had limited resources, limited time, and was one of the only capable men in all of the Empire. Yet again and again he desperately tried to save the empire.

Whenever things seemed doomed- when armies were at the gates of the capital, Stilicho would raise an army- taking garrisons where he could and hiring barbarians to serve him and rush down to save Italy.

Alaric- the man who sacked Rome and one of the most brilliant generals of the age was defeated by him Stilicho twice.

As stated Honorius was an idiot and a child. He allowed everyone to manipulate him and cared nothing for Rome so long as he got to live in luxury. Luckily for Rome, Stilicho dominated him and was the de-facto ruler of the empire.

Eventually, Stilicho found himself in a hard space. He relied on barbarians to fill the ranks of his army. The Senate and Nobles hated this but he couldn’t do anything else as they refused to allow Stilicho to recruit from their estates.

Stilicho wanted to eventually reunite East and West but for now, he wanted Illyria back- hoping to use it as recruitment grounds.

When the Eastern Emperor died Stilicho had a choice. He could do down and influence the process of crowning a new emperor and risk leaving Honorius to fall under the sway of his enemies or he could stay in Italy to maintain his position.

Stilicho chose to head to Constantinople and press Honorius’s claims.

Before he even left the Western Empire Honorius fell under the sway of Olympius- an anti-barbarian racist who hated Stilicho. Olympius turned Honorius on Stilicho with ease and that was it.

Stilicho’s army revolted against him and he was found and captured at a church. He was taken away to be executed. When his army and bodyguards protested Stilicho waved them off and allowed himself to be executed. In the end, he knew that a civil war would cost the empire too dearly and so he allowed himself to be killed.

Rome regretted this choice pretty much instantly. Not that Honorius ever cared.

You see Stilicho was short on men- REALLY short on men. So he made deals with barbarians to fill his ranks. He had a large contingent of barbarian warriors in his army and they had fought for Rome for years.

With Stilicho gone anti-barbarian sentiments came out and these men were driven from the army.

These now displaced barbarian joined Alaric and sacked Rome. That’s right, the men who sacked Rome were part of the Roman army and were forced out by idiot racists.

There were no good generals left to really do anything about Italy being invaded. Rome from here never really stood a chance at all. There would be a few more decent leaders between now and the collapse but this was really the last chance Rome had to save itself.

Speaking of the sack of Rome let’s talk about another stupid thing Honorius did.

So Alaric has a large army and he lays siege to Rome. He doesn’t want to take or sack Rome- he just wants the Senate to pay him off and he will leave.

The Senate pays him and he honors his deal and leaves Rome. He then heads up to Revenna to meet with Honorius and negotiate a long term peace deal.

Alaric makes the following demands

A spot as a Roman general A yearly stipend of gold for his people Grain shipments to keep his people fed Land in Illyria and independence The Senate comes up from Rome to meet with Honorius. They tell him to take the deal- Alaric is strong and there is nothing they can do.

Honorius agrees to everything except making Alaric a general.

Alaric then changes he tune. He suddenly drops all his demands. He simply demands land along the Danube and regular food shipments and in exchange,he would defend the Roma boarder.

This was HUGE. This was a gold deal for Rome. They basically get a free legion and all they have to do is feed them.

A lot of historians question why Alaric made this deal. I mean he has Rome by the hair and he is going to give them a sweetheart deal. I’ve heard it speculated that Alaric realized if Rome every became strong again they may attack him but if he made himself a friend he and his people would be safe.

Either way it doesn’t matter because Honorius is an idiot. HE TURNED DOWN THE DEAL AND BROKE OFF NEGOTIATIONS.

Alaric then sacked Rome……

Let’s all take a minute to laugh at Honorius. If heaven or hell is real someone please spit in this idiots face.