WI: Theodosius the Great lives an extra 20-30 years

  • Thread starter Deleted member 67076
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Deleted member 67076

Theodosius the Great was the last Roman Emperor to rule over both the east and the west and is described by most (to my knowledge, feel free to disagree) as a fairly competent man. So what would happen if he hadn't died in his 40s in 395, instead living an extra 20-30 years? How would he have dealt with the beginnings of the migrations?
 
Hi

I have wondered this myself and you should pick up "If Rome Hadn't Fallen" by Timothy Venning. It will be helpful. It does not have to be 20-30 years. It can be as little as 5.The eastern court resented Stilicho going after Alaric on their turf especially the Magister Militum of the East Rufinius. who apparently had a deal with Alaric to leave his lands alone. Theodoius died and Rufinius got Stilicho recalled in 397 ad? What if Stilicho is able to finish the job i.e. takes out the Visigoths and Alaric because Theodosius does not die. Finds out about this deal and makes himself master Militum of both and at the same time in the guise of rooting out corruption takes out his enemies in east and then west.

relayer
 
Alaric's much less valuable to either empire with Theodosius still ruling a united empire. His main use was essentially for each side to play him against the other and use him for their own devices. Though I have my doubts Theodosius could defeat Alaric-if he could defeat the Goths, he would have, rather than signed a treaty with them.

As for the migrations-well having stability on the throne, especially with a strong willed ruler like Theodosius, will do wonders for the empire during that period-it wasn't the migrations really, but the instability that followed Theodosius' death due to him having two easily controlled young heirs, that was the real problem the west and east faced. More importantly, Theodosius' sons will have grown into adulthood by then. Maybe Honorius won't be a total fuck up, and Arcadius might grow into a decent ruler.
 
The guy was, by most accounts, a mass murderer! Just look at what he did at the Hippodrome in Thessaloniki... I think he would have slaughtered a few more pagans and ended the old ways a bit quicker, but he was in no way a saint as he was made to be!
 
If Theodosius would have died years later, he could have arranged his succession in a better way. His sons would have been older or he could have appointed others within his dynasty: related by marriage to Galla Placidia or grandchildren like Theodosius II.

Because of the power vacuum after his death, not his sons but court intrigues took control, to much to handle for Magister Militum Stilicho in the West while he also had to struggle for power with the Praetorian Prefect Rufinus in the East. And there were more who were trying to set there goals: Like the Goths for prosperity and honor within the roman borders and religious leaders for control of the doctrine.

If Theodosius had lived an extra 30 years, he might as a strong leader could have controlled this issues. Even the decline of the West could have taken another turn in history.
 
The guy was, by most accounts, a mass murderer! Just look at what he did at the Hippodrome in Thessaloniki... I think he would have slaughtered a few more pagans and ended the old ways a bit quicker, but he was in no way a saint as he was made to be!

And he felt so bad for it that he set up nearly 2 millennia of church/state separation, at the end of the day.
 
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