Predecessor: Valentinian II
Reign: 393 – 394
Summary: Very little is known about Eugenius' past or upbringing. When he enters historical works, he is a teacher of grammar and rhetoric and a friend of the Frankish ruler Arbogast. When Emperor Valentinian II died, Arbogast chose Eugenius to be the next Western Roman Emperor, forcing the Roman Senate to support this election. Eugenius worked fast to replace appointments by Eastern Emperor Theodosius with those loyal to himself and Arbogast. Most were chosen from the senatorial class, endearing the Roman Senate to him as well. Unlike Theodosius, Eugenius also supported polytheism, though he himself was a Christian. This earned him the support of many of Rome's citizenry who still supported the old gods. Emperor Theodosius, who wished for an absolute Christianity within the empire, decided that he had had enough of this western pretender. While Arbogast was in the north unifying and pacifying Germanic tribes, Eugenius was in Milan attempting to receive recognition of his imperial titles. Theodosius denied him his titles and elevated his son, Honorius, to the rank of Western Emperor. He gathered an army to march on Milan. The rival armies met at the Battle of the Frigidus in September 394. The battle lasted for two days with Theodosius eventually winning the extremely bloody battle. Arbogast committed suicide after losing and Eugenius was executed for treason. His head was left on a spike outside the Roman camp. With Eugenius' death, the Roman Empire lost its last chance at preserving polytheism, with all future emperors supporting a solely Christian empire.
Summary: Very little is known about Eugenius' past or upbringing. When he enters historical works, he is a teacher of grammar and rhetoric and a friend of the Frankish ruler Arbogast. When Emperor Valentinian II died, Arbogast chose Eugenius to be the next Western Roman Emperor, forcing the Roman Senate to support this election. Eugenius worked fast to replace appointments by Eastern Emperor Theodosius with those loyal to himself and Arbogast. Most were chosen from the senatorial class, endearing the Roman Senate to him as well. Unlike Theodosius, Eugenius also supported polytheism, though he himself was a Christian. This earned him the support of many of Rome's citizenry who still supported the old gods. Emperor Theodosius, who wished for an absolute Christianity within the empire, decided that he had had enough of this western pretender. While Arbogast was in the north unifying and pacifying Germanic tribes, Eugenius was in Milan attempting to receive recognition of his imperial titles. Theodosius denied him his titles and elevated his son, Honorius, to the rank of Western Emperor. He gathered an army to march on Milan. The rival armies met at the Battle of the Frigidus in September 394. The battle lasted for two days with Theodosius eventually winning the extremely bloody battle. Arbogast committed suicide after losing and Eugenius was executed for treason. His head was left on a spike outside the Roman camp. With Eugenius' death, the Roman Empire lost its last chance at preserving polytheism, with all future emperors supporting a solely Christian empire.
Date of Death: 6 September 394
Successor: HonoriusOther Monarchs Who Died Today:
- Liudolf, duke of Swabia (957)
- John XIII, pope of Rome (972)
- Ashikaga Yoshizumi, shogun of Japan (1511)
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