WI: Western Roman Emperor Stilicho?

Zioneer

Banned
Could the famous general Stilicho become Emperor of the Western half of the Roman Empire at any point despite his "barbarian" birth? After all, just a few decades later, the similarly barbarian Zeno became emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, with nothing more than his relationship to Emperor Leo the Thracian, who was himself an elderly soldier raised up by the magister militum Aspar, who wanted a a weak emperor. Could Stilicho be like Zeno? Or at least last a decade or longer as magister militium himself in the West?
 
In short, no. Stilicho's power derived entirely from the claim that Theodosius had entrusted in him the guardianship over Honorius and Arcadius. For most of his tenure, his strategy revolved around this claim-he tried on a few occasions to wrestle control of Arcadius in addition to his control over Honorius, and only in the later stages of his tenure did he give that goal up. Stilicho was already walking on eggshells for almost his entire time in power, any bid for the purple was bound to fall apart miserably. He didn't really have that much support in the army anyway. It should be noted, Stilicho was never really accused of plotting to get power for himself, but his opponents claimed instead he was trying to set up his son as the heir to Honorius. This suggests it was never really seriously considered that he could make an attempt at obtaining the imperial title.
 
In short, no. Stilicho's power derived entirely from the claim that Theodosius had entrusted in him the guardianship over Honorius and Arcadius. For most of his tenure, his strategy revolved around this claim-he tried on a few occasions to wrestle control of Arcadius in addition to his control over Honorius, and only in the later stages of his tenure did he give that goal up. Stilicho was already walking on eggshells for almost his entire time in power, any bid for the purple was bound to fall apart miserably. He didn't really have that much support in the army anyway. It should be noted, Stilicho was never really accused of plotting to get power for himself, but his opponents claimed instead he was trying to set up his son as the heir to Honorius. This suggests it was never really seriously considered that he could make an attempt at obtaining the imperial title.
I'm quite interested,why wasn't Stilicho popular with the army?By all means,he was quite a successful general.From what I've read,only the barbarian elements of the army was supportive of him,viewing him as their boss as opposed to the emperor.The Roman elements of the army seemed to have really disliked him and it ended up revolting against him.He was of 'barbarian' descent,but compared to other guys like Ricimer,he's born and raised as a Roman.
 
I'm quite interested,why wasn't Stilicho popular with the army?By all means,he was quite a successful general.From what I've read,only the barbarian elements of the army was supportive of him,viewing him as their boss as opposed to the emperor.The Roman elements of the army seemed to have really disliked him and it ended up revolting against him.

I don't think he was unpopular with the army either. I'm not exactly sure why this is, though I might point out that when the army revolted against him, Stilicho's position by then had already all but collapsed.
 
I don't think he was unpopular with the army either. I'm not exactly sure why this is, though I might point out that when the army revolted against him, Stilicho's position by then had already all but collapsed.
From what I've read,if Stilicho actually defied arrest and used troops loyal to him,like the barbarian troops,he could have not only destroyed the Roman elements of the army but also destroy his enemies at court.The authors claimed that it was the defection of the barbarian troops to Alaric after Stilicho died that finally gave Alaric the strength to ravage Italy and sack Rome.
 

Zioneer

Banned
In short, no. Stilicho's power derived entirely from the claim that Theodosius had entrusted in him the guardianship over Honorius and Arcadius. For most of his tenure, his strategy revolved around this claim-he tried on a few occasions to wrestle control of Arcadius in addition to his control over Honorius, and only in the later stages of his tenure did he give that goal up. Stilicho was already walking on eggshells for almost his entire time in power, any bid for the purple was bound to fall apart miserably. He didn't really have that much support in the army anyway. It should be noted, Stilicho was never really accused of plotting to get power for himself, but his opponents claimed instead he was trying to set up his son as the heir to Honorius. This suggests it was never really seriously considered that he could make an attempt at obtaining the imperial title.
Didn't Zeno's authority, at least at first, come from being the father of Leo II, grandson of Leo I? It seems like he was able to do what Stilicho was unable to do (if his enemies were correct in accusing him). I'm just perplexed at why Zeno was successful, while Stilicho much less successful, again assuming that he wanted either the throne or to be the power behind the throne.

Additionally, a couple of thoughts:

1) From what I understand, Stilicho was much more popular with the barbarian elements in the army, and less so with the more "purely" Roman elements, and also immensely unpopular with the Roman Senate. Also, I don't know what Honorius thought of him, though at that point it probably didn't matter.

2) Assuming he lived longer, could Stilicho pull an Aspar and raise up a new emperor if Honorius dies early without an heir? While maybe it couldn't be him, surely he could find a new emperor from either the relatives of Theodosius or perhaps even among the army?

3) I've been looking for good sources on the Western Roman Empire/Late Roman Empire, what would you say are the best? Preferably that are in English, because I don't know any other language.
 
Didn't Zeno's authority, at least at first, come from being the father of Leo II, grandson of Leo I? It seems like he was able to do what Stilicho was unable to do (if his enemies were correct in accusing him). I'm just perplexed at why Zeno was successful, while Stilicho much less successful, again assuming that he wanted either the throne or to be the power behind the throne.

Additionally, a couple of thoughts:

1) From what I understand, Stilicho was much more popular with the barbarian elements in the army, and less so with the more "purely" Roman elements, and also immensely unpopular with the Roman Senate. Also, I don't know what Honorius thought of him, though at that point it probably didn't matter.

2) Assuming he lived longer, could Stilicho pull an Aspar and raise up a new emperor if Honorius dies early without an heir? While maybe it couldn't be him, surely he could find a new emperor from either the relatives of Theodosius or perhaps even among the army?

3) I've been looking for good sources on the Western Roman Empire/Late Roman Empire, what would you say are the best? Preferably that are in English, because I don't know any other language.
I'd presume Stilicho would have made his son emperor.His son was betrothed to Gallia Placidia,the daughter of Theodosius.
 
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