Stilicho, Flavius

Flavius (359-408), a celebrated Roman general and statesman. His father was a Vandal chief who had entered the service of the emperor Valens. Stilicho rose to high rank in the army through his military ability, and, when he had satisfactorily performed an important mission to Persia, the Emperor Theodosius the Great gave him his niece in marriage and made him commander-in-chief of the Roman army. On the death of Theodosius the empire was left to his two young sons, Arcadius to rule in the east and Honorius in the west. Rufinus, who had been minister of Theodosius and the enemy of Stilicho, was guardian of Arcadius, while Honorius was intrusted to the care of Stilicho. Rufinus instigated the Visigoths, under their king, Alaric, to an invasion of Greece while Stilicho at once set out for Constantinople and destroyed his rival in 395. He drove Alaric out of Greece in 396, and four years later repulsed him from northern Italy. Stilicho was accused of forming an alliance with Alaric, in the hope of being able to introduce his own family to the imperial succession. Historians differ as to the truth of this accusation, but, at all events, Stilicho was obliged to flee from Rome. He sought refuge at Ravenna, but was taken by Honorius and put to death.