Theodo’sius, having re-established the authority of the youthful Valentin’ian, returned home.  But the emperor of the West did not long enjoy his restored throne; he was murdered by Arbogas’tes, his prime minister, who dreaded that the abilities displayed by the young prince would enable him, when arrived to maturity, to shake off the authority of an unprincipled servant. 28.  The assassin was afraid himself to assume the purple, but he procured the election of Euge’nius, a man not wholly unworthy of empire.  Theodo’sius was called by these events a second time to Italy; he passed the Alps, but found his further progress impeded by the judicious disposition which Arbogas’tes had made of his forces.  Defeated in his first attack, Theodo’sius renewed the engagement on the following day, and being aided by the seasonable revolt of some Italian legions, obtained a complete victory.  Euge’nius was taken prisoner, and put to death by the soldiers.  Arbogas’tes, after wandering some time in the mountains, lost all hope of escape, and terminated his life by suicide.

29.  The empire was thus once more reunited under the government of a single sovereign; but he was already stricken by the hand of death.  The fatigues of the late campaign proved too much for a constitution already broken by the alternate pleasures of the palace and the toils of the camp; four months after the defeat of Euge’nius, he died at Milan, universally lamented.

Questions for Examination.

1.  What was the character of Julian?

2.  To what disqualifications did he subject the Christians?

3.  How was Julian frustrated in his attempt to weaken the prophetic evidence of Christianity?

4.  How was a civil contest between the Pagans and Christians averted?

5.  What success had Julian in the Persian invasion?

6.  How did Julian die?

7.  Who succeeded Julian?

8.  What were the most important occurrences in the reign of Jovian?

9.  What caused Jovian’s death?

10.  Who were the successors of Jovian?

11.  How did Valens provoke a revolt?

12.  By what means was the rebellion of Procopius suppressed?

13.  What barbarous nations attacked the Roman empire?

14.  In what state was Britain at this period?

15.  Over what enemies did the emperor triumph?

16.  What occasioned the death of Valentinian?

17.  What caused the introduction of the Goths into the Roman empire?

18.  How did the imprudence of Valens cause his destruction?

19.  What atrocious edict was issued by the senate of Constantinople?

20.  How was Gratian prevented from avenging his uncle’s death?

21.  To whom did Gratian entrust the eastern provinces?

22.  How did Theodosius administer the government of the East?

23.  By whom was Gratian deposed and slain?