e rank of a provincial
city.) He died during a campaign on the Danube. His son GRATIAN
(375-383) succeeded him. He discouraged Paganism, and under him
Christianity made rapid strides. His uncle Valens was slain in a battle
against the Goths; but so completely were the Eastern and Western
Empires now separated, that Gratian did not attempt to make himself sole
ruler, but appointed THEODOSIUS to the empty throne. Gratian, like
so many of his predecessors, was murdered. His successors, MAXIMUS
(383-388), VALENTINIAN II. (388-392), and EUGENIUS (392-394), were
either deposed or assassinated, and again there was, for a short time,
one ruler of the whole Empire, THEODOSIUS, whom Gratian had made Emperor
of the East. He was sole Emperor for one year (394-395). On his death
his two sons divided the Empire, HONORIUS (395-423) taking the West, and
Arcadius the East.

Honorius was only six years old when he began to reign. He was placed
under the care of a Vandal named STILICHO, to whom he was allied by
marriage. Stilicho was a man of ability. The barbarians were driven
from the frontiers on the Rhine and in Britain; a revolt in Africa was
suppressed. Honorius himself was weak and jealous. He did not hesitate
to murder Stilicho as soon as he was old enough to see the power he was
wielding. With Stilicho's death his fortune departed. Rome was besieged,
captured, and sacked by the barbarian ALARIC, in 410. When this evil was
past, numerous contestants arose in different parts of the Empire, each
eager for a portion of the fabric which was now so obviously crumbling
to pieces.

Honorius was succeeded, after one of the longest reigns of the imperial
line, by VALENTINIAN III. (423-455). The Empire was but a relic of its
former self. Gaul, Spain, and Britain were practically lost; Illyria
and Pannonia were in the hands of the Goths; and Africa was soon after
seized by the barbarians. Valentinian was fortunate in the possession
of AETIUS, a Scythian by birth, who for a time upheld the Roman name,
winning for himself the title of LAST OF THE ROMANS. He was assassinated
by his ungrateful master. A few months later, in 455, the Emperor
himself was killed by a Senator, MAXIMUS, who succeeded him, but for
only three months, when AVITUS (455-456), a noble of Gaul, became
Emperor. He was deposed by RICIMER (457-467), a Sueve, of considerable
ability, who for some time managed the affairs of the Empire, making
and unmaking its monarchs at plea