INSTRUCTION stringlengths 3 1.15k | RESPONSE stringlengths 1.65k 17.1k |
|---|---|
During this chat, Theodosius told his son-in-law that he wanted Stilicho to act as a guardian not just of Honorius, but of Arcadius as well. | <0>1260<0>1007<0>2163<0>954<0>1667<0>326<0>1723<0>2756<0>1804<0>3973<0>1071<0>3179<0>955<0>3762<0>386<0>1547<0>3840<0>3370<0>1510<0>2705<0>1202<0>2541<0>3135<0>4062<0>770<0>454<0>1136<0>1277<0>954<0>1981<0>1675<0>1649<0>443<0>2980<0>196<0>1701<0>649<0>1442<0>3783<0>3404<0>2152<0>3927<0>3927<0>3150<0>3840<0>1973<0>3705<... |
This deathbed request effectively became the Emperor's last words, as he died almost immediately after this secret conversation. But, you can probably see the problem here. | <0>2152<0>1547<0>1545<0>2734<0>1777<0>1025<0>1469<0>3918<0>1370<0>1218<0>1846<0>1883<0>1578<0>1552<0>348<0>3695<0>807<0>1434<0>3840<0>2338<0>3253<0>2088<0>2627<0>1756<0>2345<0>919<0>1277<0>2185<0>2626<0>3348<0>1370<0>1370<0>4028<0>3018<0>1219<0>1370<0>3385<0>1578<0>2178<0>2566<0>321<0>5<0>2178<0>326<0>955<0>2676<0>955<... |
Stillico was the only one present for this momentous pronouncement. | <0>2354<0>1830<0>2151<0>3404<0>3949<0>2756<0>1762<0>2566<0>2675<0>1114<0>2338<0>3353<0>1219<0>1441<0>1441<0>1007<0>1020<0>3563<0>3404<0>196<0>1331<0>1569<0>3695<0>2338<0>789<0>3052<0>3052<0>2338<0>1114<0>1578<0>3052<0>2338<0>2020<0>234<0>1277<0>3642<0>2178<0>3904<0>4044<0>3052<0>1031<0>3151<0>840<0>1981<0>3695<0>3052<0... |
But now suddenly, he was wandering around telling people that Theodosia secretly told him at the last minute that he was supposed to rule the east too. | <0>3164<0>697<0>807<0>3443<0>1857<0>1594<0>3840<0>3297<0>3297<0>3297<0>3419<0>1701<0>3297<0>3277<0>3642<0>2221<0>3840<0>3840<0>1117<0>628<0>3516<0>432<0>3565<0>1007<0>3642<0>294<0>1899<0>614<0>2178<0>5<0>1552<0>368<0>2581<0>2151<0>3404<0>4022<0>389<0>3385<0>368<0>3187<0>1973<0>3404<0>2581<0>3837<0>2541<0>2123<0>562<0>6... |
To which I would have reacted, you don't actually expect me to believe that obvious load of complete BS, do you? | <0>3762<0>3832<0>3840<0>3840<0>2848<0>3570<0>898<0>1469<0>1007<0>779<0>4028<0>2531<0>1635<0>2648<0>611<0>1654<0>3297<0>662<0>3024<0>1206<0>686<0>3022<0>2921<0>2072<0>3472<0>3404<0>1981<0>2163<0>3695<0>1042<0>538<0>3297<0>104<0>446<0>2420<0>2656<0>2324<0>3297<0>2627<0>5<0>1639<0>1488<0>3598<0>368<0>289<0>294<0>2338<0>13... |
But Stillico apparently did expect everyone to believe it, and for almost the entire time he was in power, he maintained his rather bizarre claim to regency over the whole empire. | <0>833<0>3927<0>1026<0>417<0>1319<0>2756<0>1680<0>998<0>1846<0>2864<0>2716<0>2163<0>1981<0>1011<0>147<0>1547<0>3935<0>1959<0>1578<0>1099<0>1790<0>956<0>2648<0>2178<0>2054<0>2054<0>2338<0>1639<0>1488<0>3253<0>690<0>2151<0>2700<0>2239<0>2700<0>3179<0>948<0>1594<0>623<0>3277<0>1978<0>1973<0>2541<0>1238<0>1883<0>1746<0>120... |
To top it all off, modern historians are not even convinced that there ever was a secret conversation. That the whole thing had been made up out of whole cloth after the fact to explain Stilco's attempt to seize control of the Eastern Empire. | <0>551<0>2152<0>3695<0>1981<0>1639<0>1311<0>651<0>3962<0>1883<0>1981<0>1218<0>3018<0>3147<0>3237<0>2191<0>1007<0>521<0>2819<0>679<0>2152<0>1857<0>1978<0>1883<0>3968<0>3180<0>1883<0>1007<0>3297<0>3404<0>3404<0>3022<0>289<0>2615<0>679<0>1654<0>361<0>234<0>3618<0>1238<0>254<0>234<0>2338<0>827<0>3695<0>2422<0>1981<0>2566<0... |
Probably the person laughing hardest at Stiliko's obvious load of complete BS was back in Constantinople, the Praetorian prefect Rufinus. | <0>1483<0>954<0>3973<0>2799<0>1902<0>2283<0>2339<0>2474<0>1881<0>3840<0>2239<0>1331<0>3404<0>3695<0>3642<0>196<0>3949<0>1981<0>3404<0>1973<0>2388<0>2396<0>2210<0>705<0>898<0>3404<0>263<0>3385<0>1578<0>3053<0>3377<0>3663<0>1552<0>1578<0>3695<0>1846<0>2176<0>283<0>2178<0>234<0>2551<0>2575<0>3404<0>1846<0>3168<0>3253<0>29... |
As I mentioned, he and Stilicho were bitter enemies. So you can probably imagine his reaction when a messenger arrived one day bearing the news that Stilicho was claiming Theodosius secretly wanted him to control the Eastern Empire. | <0>1603<0>1157<0>1469<0>2748<0>2152<0>3832<0>3297<0>1277<0>3237<0>2769<0>289<0>2152<0>1578<0>3594<0>1846<0>2176<0>2927<0>54<0>614<0>1488<0>774<0>1250<0>2907<0>3097<0>546<0>3401<0>2176<0>2022<0>3705<0>3579<0>2497<0>3023<0>2569<0>977<0>2239<0>3973<0>3386<0>1020<0>850<0>1501<0>1981<0>2221<0>691<0>1902<0>611<0>1883<0>2070<... |
I picture Rufinus falling out of his chair laughing, picking himself up off the floor, and then immediately making plans to kill Stiliko at the earliest opportunity. | <0>2551<0>1472<0>3472<0>746<0>3187<0>1472<0>3840<0>3131<0>746<0>623<0>3642<0>2152<0>2972<0>1805<0>3385<0>1086<0>446<0>2541<0>3783<0>807<0>3439<0>3515<0>3404<0>2178<0>2404<0>1855<0>1910<0>54<0>1680<0>2756<0>3151<0>2641<0>3299<0>390<0>2193<0>2239<0>647<0>2716<0>3297<0>2152<0>690<0>3695<0>1883<0>1883<0>1883<0>1883<0>3962<... |
But Stiliko would prove himself to be an extremely savvy operator. Far savvier than Rufinus anyway, who will incidentally wind up dead in a ditch in less than a year. | <0>229<0>2762<0>1880<0>279<0>1007<0>886<0>54<0>614<0>619<0>1406<0>1007<0>833<0>614<0>2799<0>922<0>2368<0>746<0>679<0>326<0>3150<0>2339<0>1552<0>2099<0>289<0>289<0>2722<0>1441<0>623<0>1205<0>1578<0>1890<0>886<0>3840<0>3642<0>3776<0>1117<0>2176<0>172<0>1578<0>4044<0>2648<0>2649<0>2864<0>3151<0>3151<0>1762<0>1762<0>2827<0... |
Eager to solidify his position as the new de facto regent. And I say de facto because there was no official regent position in Roman law. | <0>123<0>386<0>3166<0>807<0>291<0>3695<0>3695<0>3135<0>3135<0>3840<0>1857<0>1981<0>2748<0>1494<0>3904<0>5<0>1114<0>2338<0>2032<0>1578<0>1982<0>2416<0>2338<0>1114<0>1635<0>919<0>2581<0>3297<0>517<0>1578<0>2053<0>1804<0>3733<0>2054<0>614<0>492<0>1206<0>1300<0>1502<0>3052<0>955<0>2700<0>2700<0>955<0>3660<0>746<0>3131<0>39... |
He turned to the most powerful man in the Western Empire, Ambrose of Milan, for support. | <0>2089<0>553<0>3277<0>1902<0>3143<0>2799<0>1981<0>3840<0>1805<0>2049<0>2332<0>2102<0>1883<0>3783<0>3783<0>1442<0>30<0>196<0>3392<0>2178<0>2675<0>2054<0>3660<0>361<0>3255<0>3239<0>2497<0>3246<0>3151<0>2683<0>1649<0>1025<0>2239<0>3419<0>807<0>1981<0>1846<0>3840<0>2705<0>1973<0>2020<0>2178<0>2178<0>1488<0>1488<0>3579<0>3... |
The Vandal General and the Roman Bishop forged an alliance that was sealed when Ambrose publicly endorsed the claim that Stilicho had been ordered to preside over both Imperial brothers rather than just Honorius. | <0>3840<0>3840<0>1469<0>2525<0>3404<0>3135<0>1547<0>690<0>3404<0>3783<0>3867<0>2152<0>3642<0>1981<0>1981<0>3297<0>196<0>1671<0>1723<0>3705<0>1639<0>3164<0>2354<0>3982<0>545<0>1883<0>3354<0>2427<0>1981<0>3168<0>3151<0>2497<0>361<0>1578<0>3310<0>1025<0>2700<0>2239<0>2575<0>3135<0>73<0>3385<0>3927<0>926<0>3974<0>614<0>164... |
But Rufinus was undeterred. Stiliko could make all the laughable claims he wanted. There was no way the Praetorian Prefect was giving an inch of political space. | <0>1031<0>521<0>3404<0>746<0>386<0>368<0>746<0>326<0>3135<0>3840<0>2921<0>2054<0>1502<0>1982<0>388<0>1370<0>1805<0>2899<0>3237<0>2700<0>3237<0>3018<0>2199<0>3660<0>1020<0>2422<0>3949<0>3840<0>1620<0>1911<0>3118<0>3297<0>807<0>2626<0>2548<0>2745<0>3563<0>2921<0>2669<0>4088<0>1136<0>2898<0>614<0>2020<0>1973<0>1981<0>3184... |
This test of wills came to a head in 395 in an incident that put on full display the consequences of personal rivalry spilling over into official policy. | <0>3840<0>368<0>3927<0>2762<0>3045<0>1857<0>1230<0>1117<0>3135<0>3974<0>2499<0>2499<0>1219<0>3018<0>2199<0>368<0>2152<0>679<0>3840<0>3118<0>623<0>3194<0>2185<0>1277<0>2594<0>2034<0>919<0>3305<0>1671<0>978<0>1218<0>3151<0>3705<0>3151<0>1639<0>2239<0>2182<0>1058<0>623<0>2152<0>3284<0>368<0>2152<0>3850<0>3642<0>2769<0>329... |
As I've mentioned, the Goths were not at all happy about the way they had been used at the Battle of the Frigates, and it was an article of faith among them that they had been intentionally led to the slaughter to weaken their power. | <0>1542<0>2530<0>3927<0>679<0>679<0>1022<0>2143<0>2538<0>3239<0>3097<0>679<0>807<0>291<0>1902<0>3404<0>2972<0>3165<0>2499<0>1007<0>3297<0>690<0>3404<0>3404<0>3404<0>1218<0>2898<0>3314<0>1007<0>789<0>1671<0>1762<0>1639<0>2020<0>2566<0>235<0>3609<0>3253<0>1300<0>1277<0>3598<0>3123<0>1899<0>3328<0>326<0>326<0>3132<0>1762<... |
Initially, Alaric, the leading chief of the gothic army, neither stoked these fires nor did anything really to dampen them out. | <0>2695<0>2152<0>368<0>1195<0>4022<0>3840<0>3135<0>1206<0>3392<0>3187<0>1902<0>1981<0>3579<0>3069<0>2987<0>2338<0>289<0>289<0>196<0>3297<0>3297<0>289<0>1206<0>3297<0>2440<0>703<0>1377<0>978<0>1639<0>1219<0>2368<0>3151<0>3151<0>2199<0>1218<0>2221<0>1192<0>3328<0>3018<0>23<0>725<0>955<0>196<0>3987<0>4017<0>2748<0>2922<0>... |
He was more reserved than his countrymen because with all the reshuffling that was underway following the death of Theodosius, he thought he saw an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Ricomere and Arbogast and Stilicho and become a barbarian general in the Roman army. | <0>3284<0>553<0>3404<0>779<0>679<0>2872<0>1218<0>779<0>1830<0>3695<0>1618<0>2921<0>649<0>3253<0>1494<0>2404<0>136<0>2137<0>3239<0>2338<0>797<0>1502<0>1675<0>3973<0>361<0>3642<0>3695<0>1007<0>3840<0>3277<0>1981<0>3592<0>2541<0>1765<0>2339<0>954<0>3642<0>900<0>2638<0>3377<0>2221<0>2054<0>324<0>196<0>2176<0>2338<0>2054<0>... |
But Stilicho in particular was hugely opposed to the idea of Alaric serving Rome in an official capacity. Mostly because combining the role of Gothic king with Roman general was a frightening prospect. | <0>954<0>2799<0>1127<0>4074<0>1880<0>2956<0>326<0>1857<0>3135<0>2626<0>3642<0>196<0>3393<0>1578<0>2959<0>3688<0>2178<0>3579<0>1639<0>2239<0>2665<0>1370<0>326<0>2700<0>2239<0>3386<0>289<0>289<0>679<0>3277<0>1955<0>1654<0>611<0>207<0>3705<0>1762<0>2199<0>2191<0>3873<0>1192<0>3253<0>3697<0>1192<0>1973<0>3579<0>2091<0>1136... |
Alaric led his troops back to Thrace in the spring of 395, but when he got there, he received word that he was not, in fact, going to be offered a command. And so, feeling betrayed, he started actively encouraging the Goth's hostility. | <0>898<0>1218<0>2872<0>2716<0>1106<0>3095<0>3840<0>830<0>2875<0>2152<0>326<0>3448<0>1309<0>3927<0>234<0>1973<0>2748<0>3187<0>2152<0>1578<0>1213<0>628<0>3708<0>1578<0>3516<0>1578<0>3132<0>492<0>2656<0>3143<0>3239<0>1635<0>1502<0>552<0>684<0>2355<0>3151<0>165<0>2569<0>3018<0>290<0>2396<0>954<0>2123<0>3135<0>2152<0>2875<0... |
In just a few weeks their rage boiled over and the central empire was once again dealing with a marauding gothic army. | <0>3642<0>368<0>2922<0>3832<0>746<0>3832<0>850<0>2626<0>3974<0>1501<0>630<0>1007<0>3840<0>2499<0>3135<0>2656<0>1011<0>3861<0>2026<0>2541<0>2151<0>1846<0>2176<0>3027<0>2178<0>2178<0>2178<0>353<0>2239<0>2239<0>3095<0>256<0>3297<0>3832<0>3695<0>690<0>1981<0>1483<0>3695<0>954<0>2324<0>1981<0>1883<0>1981<0>3592<0>1117<0>198... |
Since the Romans had just fought a big old civil war in northern Italy, that's where most of the troops of the empire were at the moment, and so it fell to Stilicho to deal with Alaric's rampaging Goths. | <0>2762<0>2934<0>326<0>3404<0>3404<0>1902<0>3888<0>3697<0>1594<0>2152<0>0<0>3118<0>3377<0>2199<0>3151<0>321<0>1136<0>2595<0>2568<0>3882<0>647<0>2375<0>2626<0>2123<0>1488<0>1578<0>454<0>2947<0>1192<0>2665<0>2665<0>3168<0>1370<0>30<0>324<0>1502<0>1488<0>1973<0>3239<0>123<0>2152<0>1117<0>2675<0>1502<0>1071<0>1989<0>1172<0... |
But the Army Stilicho led through the Alps was not really in tip-top shape, nor a particularly cohesive unit. | <0>196<0>2799<0>2091<0>2700<0>2185<0>3555<0>787<0>1902<0>3536<0>3555<0>3927<0>326<0>3135<0>3840<0>3695<0>2669<0>1955<0>3840<0>1038<0>1486<0>3253<0>1701<0>3579<0>2864<0>1578<0>2972<0>3135<0>3840<0>1654<0>3297<0>291<0>3404<0>3949<0>3840<0>3840<0>2023<0>1501<0>1654<0>2185<0>1746<0>3695<0>390<0>562<0>321<0>2199<0>1849<0>53... |
The damage done at the Frigatus was still being felt. Not just in terms of physical fighting ability, but also in terms of the troops actually trusting each other. | <0>2427<0>2152<0>1547<0>900<0>1328<0>2152<0>703<0>3935<0>3404<0>3840<0>3180<0>3277<0>1026<0>1007<0>3887<0>1496<0>1578<0>3310<0>1287<0>2952<0>2293<0>998<0>3135<0>3277<0>4074<0>1578<0>2581<0>1955<0>1955<0>289<0>1654<0>3297<0>1855<0>1618<0>2898<0>2548<0>1019<0>1025<0>3116<0>3466<0>1376<0>3726<0>196<0>679<0>3443<0>3075<0>2... |
After all, the men who made up Stilicho's army had just been hacking each other to pieces the previous autumn. | <0>359<0>3404<0>2354<0>3840<0>2512<0>3783<0>3946<0>2987<0>2987<0>2676<0>2700<0>234<0>679<0>623<0>648<0>649<0>2393<0>785<0>2151<0>5<0>326<0>2339<0>1370<0>2972<0>175<0>2338<0>3151<0>2054<0>3574<0>2924<0>3913<0>3116<0>3686<0>1850<0>1484<0>1277<0>2848<0>2152<0>5<0>3328<0>705<0>557<0>3695<0>1074<0>3123<0>3328<0>103<0>2338<0... |
It was a little difficult for them to grasp that they were all now on the same side. | <0>3487<0>3297<0>1117<0>3840<0>3840<0>1883<0>3297<0>2185<0>3840<0>2626<0>1955<0>2152<0>175<0>2338<0>1370<0>774<0>348<0>2054<0>2178<0>2927<0>3798<0>2338<0>1370<0>1136<0>559<0>978<0>1632<0>1219<0>5<0>2054<0>443<0>3970<0>1488<0>1488<0>1899<0>3705<0>2987<0>2548<0>2178<0>2178<0>63<0>148<0>2815<0>2762<0>1370<0>3579<0>3579<0>... |
But there was no getting around the fact that the Goths needed to be settled, so off Stilco went to try to settle them. | <0>679<0>1020<0>1401<0>3277<0>2152<0>2837<0>1957<0>2375<0>3642<0>1883<0>1117<0>1442<0>1578<0>2756<0>165<0>3310<0>1701<0>2338<0>3151<0>2338<0>454<0>1203<0>3123<0>3328<0>1206<0>3353<0>234<0>3328<0>1701<0>446<0>175<0>2054<0>998<0>3052<0>543<0>3018<0>3665<0>2531<0>1370<0>3786<0>771<0>1883<0>1007<0>3927<0>538<0>3840<0>1973<... |
The Vandal was a Death to General, and knowing the weakness of his own army, decided to engage in a positional campaign designed to hem Alaric in, rather than trying to break him in a set-piece battle. | <0>3840<0>1309<0>1525<0>1007<0>210<0>2020<0>1219<0>2626<0>1007<0>3277<0>373<0>2099<0>3537<0>1010<0>3695<0>3378<0>1701<0>30<0>3579<0>592<0>2683<0>2178<0>234<0>290<0>2239<0>2921<0>2375<0>807<0>679<0>3297<0>3297<0>1981<0>3840<0>3297<0>3297<0>3297<0>703<0>2649<0>517<0>4044<0>234<0>2338<0>1370<0>2054<0>1902<0>1902<0>954<0>2... |
Eventually, Astilico's strategy proved so successful that the golfs became trapped in a terrible position. | <0>1883<0>3987<0>1306<0>3277<0>2020<0>3253<0>1284<0>2700<0>3949<0>3927<0>3832<0>3840<0>3840<0>3695<0>3840<0>3832<0>3695<0>1981<0>3297<0>1899<0>3574<0>3239<0>2338<0>3239<0>3927<0>3150<0>3840<0>3832<0>2902<0>454<0>3321<0>1578<0>3151<0>1219<0>234<0>1442<0>4075<0>1370<0>3151<0>2199<0>648<0>2338<0>3328<0>3579<0>3385<0>898<0... |
If Stiliko was ever going to take a shot at battle, now would be the time to do it. | <0>3973<0>2172<0>2267<0>3840<0>3840<0>1657<0>2338<0>2020<0>2338<0>628<0>2176<0>2368<0>1502<0>234<0>631<0>1580<0>35<0>3385<0>1136<0>3579<0>2747<0>898<0>1978<0>1218<0>1649<0>2987<0>2987<0>2987<0>3469<0>648<0>3079<0>3404<0>1883<0>2092<0>2338<0>1277<0>2627<0>3253<0>2016<0>1136<0>3705<0>324<0>2957<0>2099<0>3131<0>1117<0>397... |
But then, a surprise order came in from Arcadius, originating of course with Rufinus. | <0>1620<0>3180<0>326<0>3045<0>901<0>2152<0>3916<0>1654<0>746<0>3695<0>2877<0>3797<0>1902<0>900<0>538<0>2747<0>2343<0>2541<0>1618<0>3733<0>1636<0>3328<0>3328<0>2338<0>1778<0>1192<0>1370<0>2551<0>1578<0>2581<0>1957<0>1206<0>1494<0>2354<0>3386<0>3116<0>3147<0>2239<0>1883<0>3135<0>475<0>2927<0>1168<0>2116<0>2924<0>3107<0>9... |
Demanding that Stiliko return the eastern troops to Constantinople and withdraw from Greece at once. | <0>1748<0>2152<0>679<0>3118<0>746<0>3297<0>3297<0>3660<0>1026<0>3150<0>3840<0>2191<0>3120<0>1370<0>614<0>2339<0>1370<0>2338<0>3902<0>1804<0>1618<0>3404<0>679<0>1501<0>3837<0>3861<0>3166<0>1370<0>3239<0>2034<0>2020<0>1830<0>0<0>2972<0>1136<0>1639<0>1545<0>1701<0>3328<0>2105<0>2034<0>3135<0>2669<0>2535<0>1748<0>2239<0>30... |
That Stilicho decided to comply with this order hints that he maybe had no intention of actually attacking the Goths. But he sure told everyone who would listen that he had been fatally undercut by that sneaky snake Rufinus who had robbed the Romans of a certain victory simply to deny me, noble Stilicho, a personal vi... | <0>1858<0>1018<0>4074<0>814<0>507<0>3594<0>3927<0>1309<0>2152<0>1978<0>521<0>2581<0>1206<0>438<0>3385<0>2054<0>1442<0>2258<0>58<0>321<0>3642<0>3783<0>2338<0>73<0>446<0>2339<0>1370<0>2178<0>2239<0>2700<0>2045<0>746<0>368<0>2152<0>3927<0>2038<0>4062<0>1547<0>2199<0>919<0>679<0>807<0>3560<0>1378<0>746<0>595<0>61<0>3328<0>... |
Whoever's idea it was to let Alaric go, and there is good evidence that it was indeed Stillico's idea. | <0>2324<0>2510<0>3314<0>3927<0>1157<0>546<0>1206<0>546<0>2123<0>3786<0>1370<0>4028<0>1552<0>2034<0>2178<0>2020<0>1288<0>2307<0>1136<0>321<0>1680<0>165<0>2278<0>3359<0>3120<0>3579<0>797<0>3973<0>2044<0>3018<0>3927<0>593<0>1472<0>3837<0>551<0>3131<0>193<0>2541<0>2338<0>552<0>2178<0>3310<0>546<0>2626<0>2339<0>1503<0>3904<... |
The fact that the gothic chief lived to fight another day wound up having some pretty serious consequences down the road. | <0>2921<0>2152<0>3594<0>2530<0>3187<0>3052<0>1552<0>3594<0>3472<0>1981<0>1883<0>3695<0>2278<0>3118<0>1206<0>1830<0>3052<0>1441<0>3287<0>3840<0>3837<0>3592<0>1902<0>1370<0>1168<0>2338<0>2054<0>552<0>2595<0>30<0>2639<0>2899<0>2293<0>955<0>3018<0>2239<0>443<0>1370<0>3404<0>2543<0>1649<0>3705<0>348<0>552<0>2054<0>454<0>323... |
Next week, we will begin to feel some of those consequences, as the empire will break down into three political centers of gravity. Stilicho in the west, Alaric in the center, | <0>2185<0>2375<0>900<0>2315<0>2626<0>2581<0>1501<0>3686<0>2251<0>2018<0>3237<0>72<0>3180<0>679<0>1441<0>3297<0>3861<0>1035<0>88<0>1703<0>3927<0>3748<0>3832<0>289<0>3297<0>1883<0>2009<0>1618<0>2054<0>1219<0>2338<0>5<0>5<0>2972<0>3246<0>3151<0>3239<0>2972<0>3151<0>3579<0>3239<0>2338<0>3052<0>3310<0>353<0>2700<0>2239<0>26... |
And whoever happened to be controlling Arcadius at the moment in the East. | <0>269<0>2151<0>679<0>3840<0>291<0>1978<0>3404<0>2578<0>3899<0>2877<0>2419<0>3328<0>1855<0>3253<0>3385<0>3403<0>1488<0>2054<0>3151<0>276<0>2355<0>386<0>289<0>289<0>1582<0>1370<0>5<0>1219<0>2054<0>2054<0>432<0>1172<0>405<0>2116<0>1277<0>2116<0>3438<0>2185<0>1899<0>1578<0>4027<0>602<0>2068<0>2068<0>2068<0>2068<0>2068<0>3... |
Over the next few years, they will all play everyone off everyone else in a tricky and often bloody game of political chess that will wind up leaving the empire with very few pieces left on the board. | <0>1883<0>1007<0>2151<0>2375<0>2638<0>4074<0>289<0>289<0>289<0>3439<0>516<0>1007<0>3143<0>2152<0>3305<0>2975<0>1446<0>4008<0>3471<0>3471<0>3420<0>2799<0>1846<0>2581<0>289<0>3570<0>321<0>690<0>1147<0>954<0>2363<0>1218<0>3151<0>1338<0>1787<0>2211<0>690<0>1846<0>2368<0>3516<0>3151<0>1578<0>1538<0>3095<0>2185<0>1701<0>1667... |
In the summer of 395, Estilico led practically the only Roman army of consequence left in the empire into Thrace to face down Alaric and his rampaging Goths. | <0>2473<0>2070<0>1773<0>2315<0>1902<0>258<0>446<0>2199<0>1857<0>1007<0>3118<0>807<0>2627<0>2927<0>446<0>1136<0>1370<0>2338<0>3310<0>3116<0>3237<0>3237<0>3840<0>3927<0>1880<0>2752<0>2422<0>1127<0>2422<0>2921<0>1007<0>546<0>3913<0>348<0>898<0>43<0>743<0>4028<0>2176<0>2207<0>2088<0>3353<0>1056<0>1883<0>3135<0>1981<0>546<0... |
But right at the moment when it appeared that victory was within his grasp, Astiliko suddenly decided to detach the eastern contingent of his army and return it to Constantinople before leading the rest of his army back towards the west. | <0>1981<0>2541<0>898<0>1469<0>3264<0>1020<0>3404<0>1007<0>229<0>3840<0>1441<0>2152<0>2848<0>1434<0>3286<0>3292<0>2531<0>2646<0>4028<0>3131<0>2388<0>1778<0>2531<0>1671<0>2338<0>4028<0>3918<0>2338<0>1377<0>3041<0>283<0>1898<0>628<0>2756<0>1578<0>3386<0>2780<0>1989<0>3237<0>869<0>3116<0>3592<0>3927<0>1880<0>1683<0>3840<0>... |
Preparing to make his last stand, Alaric wound up simply watching the Roman army dissipate without so much as a sword being drawn. | <0>3404<0>3404<0>2748<0>1081<0>3695<0>2748<0>1401<0>3935<0>1547<0>1981<0>521<0>2748<0>4074<0>3118<0>623<0>3297<0>1567<0>543<0>1071<0>1278<0>19<0>3443<0>1981<0>3404<0>807<0>3949<0>1649<0>3310<0>1441<0>1007<0>3404<0>256<0>1857<0>3695<0>3642<0>3840<0>3297<0>196<0>651<0>2648<0>3143<0>361<0>954<0>1192<0>1442<0>218<0>2338<0>... |
Scholars long blame the machinations of the Eastern Praetorian Prefect Rufinus for the order to break up Stilco's army. | <0>1127<0>2762<0>595<0>2621<0>2368<0>3187<0>3297<0>1883<0>1981<0>196<0>614<0>253<0>1982<0>234<0>3798<0>628<0>2804<0>2454<0>172<0>1756<0>3557<0>1849<0>1982<0>3665<0>432<0>2566<0>1899<0>3837<0>919<0>2404<0>978<0>2178<0>2178<0>1973<0>1331<0>1370<0>30<0>3107<0>348<0>1701<0>2211<0>580<0>3052<0>2178<0>3239<0>815<0>2353<0>329... |
But it is just as likely that Stilco himself never had any intention of bringing Alaric to battle, and was just happy for any excuse to withdraw. | <0>2156<0>3733<0>1649<0>2151<0>850<0>850<0>326<0>3055<0>746<0>1857<0>3927<0>2199<0>3318<0>253<0>2176<0>3297<0>1880<0>446<0>4044<0>1370<0>5<0>2338<0>3239<0>2730<0>3239<0>1578<0>254<0>3404<0>1648<0>1331<0>1649<0>2594<0>3447<0>3404<0>1007<0>219<0>2944<0>3068<0>2838<0>2152<0>2581<0>3297<0>2816<0>1494<0>3328<0>3660<0>2178<0... |
As later events would show, as much as Imperial propaganda liked to paint the Goths as out of control monsters, the courts of both East and West knew that they were actually an incredibly valuable military resource to be utilized, not some terrible foreign enemy to be defeated at all costs. | <0>2241<0>746<0>3840<0>3160<0>1472<0>291<0>291<0>3642<0>1026<0>3404<0>3880<0>916<0>516<0>3404<0>1883<0>457<0>869<0>3805<0>19<0>746<0>1007<0>1007<0>2436<0>3832<0>3927<0>3642<0>361<0>2756<0>2531<0>321<0>443<0>1362<0>771<0>1799<0>3405<0>1059<0>2034<0>1219<0>1370<0>1951<0>3239<0>1748<0>2009<0>1701<0>3743<0>1277<0>1136<0>11... |
Put simply, crushing the Goths would have meant crippling the long-term war-making power of the Empire. | <0>1587<0>2837<0>1703<0>807<0>1973<0>3253<0>23<0>4027<0>1511<0>2156<0>955<0>1649<0>1902<0>2735<0>2638<0>690<0>807<0>256<0>1981<0>1819<0>1973<0>1578<0>3052<0>3052<0>2339<0>173<0>2338<0>1022<0>3297<0>4007<0>2239<0>2102<0>3447<0>359<0>1192<0>649<0>2178<0>1488<0>2054<0>3982<0>1883<0>3642<0>3748<0>1370<0>2054<0>2178<0>234<0... |
And beyond that, the courts of East and West also understood that crushing the Goths would have meant losing a potential ace in the hole to be laid down in the high stakes game of political poker they were playing with each other. | <0>3116<0>1108<0>3695<0>3297<0>546<0>3695<0>2339<0>3626<0>2070<0>3935<0>2152<0>924<0>725<0>2987<0>725<0>725<0>2307<0>2427<0>1007<0>2541<0>2541<0>1973<0>3264<0>2152<0>3364<0>289<0>1206<0>3910<0>1501<0>724<0>2020<0>2531<0>1578<0>1538<0>2548<0>3563<0>2745<0>3695<0>2339<0>2178<0>3516<0>1582<0>326<0>2338<0>2338<0>1025<0>223... |
Aside from long-term geopolitical strategy, Estilico had another incentive for breaking up his army. | <0>898<0>3045<0>1729<0>557<0>3545<0>1230<0>1007<0>2615<0>3962<0>1981<0>2626<0>1007<0>2054<0>3328<0>1962<0>2176<0>1762<0>2178<0>2176<0>3239<0>2898<0>1582<0>978<0>2648<0>1136<0>3609<0>1486<0>3328<0>2239<0>2239<0>2239<0>3760<0>3592<0>3927<0>2530<0>2949<0>2422<0>417<0>1007<0>1007<0>2152<0>361<0>2531<0>2531<0>54<0>1519<0>37... |
Whether he was the instigator of the coming assassination of Rufinus or just an interested third party is unknown, but it is hard to believe Stiliko didn't know what was going to happen when the Eastern troops returned to Constantinople. | <0>2499<0>2070<0>1157<0>3512<0>2838<0>3022<0>3840<0>3832<0>1206<0>289<0>1501<0>2152<0>446<0>2581<0>1957<0>2581<0>516<0>3987<0>1352<0>3840<0>196<0>2581<0>2273<0>691<0>1007<0>3297<0>1352<0>3927<0>1010<0>3377<0>1857<0>3642<0>3118<0>2638<0>915<0>2338<0>2338<0>2338<0>2323<0>1701<0>3328<0>2258<0>1578<0>2038<0>2239<0>2062<0>3... |
Heading back east under the command of an ethnically Goth general named Guinus, the troops arrived at the great capital city in the late summer of 395. | <0>3565<0>2734<0>3277<0>2324<0>2767<0>3187<0>123<0>289<0>1206<0>1205<0>1352<0>2748<0>807<0>3118<0>2324<0>3642<0>623<0>1114<0>2531<0>3837<0>3695<0>1007<0>1746<0>1306<0>3840<0>289<0>234<0>1362<0>321<0>1370<0>3043<0>290<0>2454<0>2531<0>3579<0>3151<0>552<0>294<0>871<0>446<0>1838<0>1286<0>324<0>1578<0>2355<0>1538<0>2239<0>2... |
The Emperor Arcadius came out to the army's camp to greet them, and the Prefect Rufinus was by his side. | <0>234<0>1306<0>807<0>611<0>2422<0>3985<0>1370<0>2105<0>746<0>2581<0>1206<0>1654<0>8<0>1301<0>3968<0>679<0>628<0>1973<0>2038<0>2506<0>3165<0>1370<0>3579<0>1701<0>388<0>1494<0>2497<0>789<0>1219<0>1973<0>475<0>1434<0>2626<0>1442<0>2612<0>3288<0>924<0>1287<0>3173<0>3068<0>1469<0>3840<0>1031<0>386<0>1855<0>2756<0>2730<0>16... |
But when they arrived, a hand-picked company of soldiers surrounded the shocked prefect and unceremoniously hacked him to death. | <0>196<0>3135<0>1007<0>3927<0>1525<0>1981<0>1883<0>1729<0>1618<0>256<0>3642<0>3386<0>955<0>2700<0>3179<0>3118<0>1730<0>386<0>1653<0>1284<0>382<0>926<0>2590<0>691<0>1442<0>3297<0>546<0>770<0>4044<0>2339<0>2020<0>2927<0>3079<0>1538<0>1578<0>3927<0>2339<0>1007<0>2436<0>3840<0>3297<0>1578<0>906<0>2265<0>2648<0>2868<0>3132<... |
Rufinus had apparently been so focused on his enemy, Stilicho, that he failed to see just how many enemies he was generating right there at home. | <0>619<0>2338<0>746<0>386<0>546<0>2152<0>1552<0>105<0>105<0>105<0>105<0>1541<0>1594<0>3840<0>3377<0>1472<0>691<0>2152<0>3642<0>2152<0>3927<0>2151<0>3404<0>2199<0>934<0>3840<0>2626<0>3832<0>3695<0>1442<0>2959<0>2769<0>1545<0>649<0>3328<0>1578<0>1026<0>3840<0>3840<0>3867<0>3705<0>1639<0>3913<0>2399<0>515<0>869<0>3116<0>4... |
Not the least of whom was the new empress, Eudoxia. | <0>196<0>348<0>2338<0>2338<0>2020<0>368<0>3832<0>1026<0>2176<0>175<0>3253<0>2176<0>1277<0>2700<0>2899<0>1538<0>2566<0>2531<0>4044<0>3253<0>3328<0>614<0>3097<0>2375<0>3509<0>1639<0>2034<0>1582<0>2038<0>3116<0>1479<0>3129<0>3123<0>2099<0>291<0>1620<0>2390<0>2830<0>1950<0>1649<0>3981<0>2068<0>2068<0>2068<0>2068<0>2068<0>2... |
It's not that Rufinus didn't know Eudoxia was a deadly rival for power. | <0>1501<0>3927<0>279<0>3701<0>627<0>1309<0>1007<0>1213<0>3143<0>546<0>623<0>2390<0>3657<0>1318<0>1547<0>2812<0>3297<0>361<0>2338<0>2649<0>1899<0>2531<0>1639<0>2354<0>1855<0>840<0>2092<0>2034<0>2338<0>1756<0>2498<0>918<0>2137<0>3253<0>2338<0>1519<0>321<0>2648<0>3151<0>443<0>934<0>1734<0>3748<0>1729<0>1820<0>1680<0>1649<... |
After all, her marriage to Arcadius earlier that April had been publicly opposed by the Prefect, as he had been pushing his own daughter on the Emperor. | <0>3095<0>2748<0>978<0>2338<0>3962<0>3783<0>287<0>2987<0>2987<0>3018<0>2551<0>1618<0>3509<0>807<0>3277<0>801<0>507<0>321<0>5<0>403<0>2581<0>1206<0>1206<0>326<0>1973<0>1618<0>1486<0>2464<0>2034<0>1370<0>3403<0>2931<0>3131<0>820<0>1973<0>1218<0>1649<0>2700<0>1172<0>2210<0>3180<0>2627<0>234<0>3246<0>3150<0>2669<0>3840<0>1... |
And you can't really stand in the way of a woman's path to power and then expect roses and thank you cards when she slips past you into the emperor's bedroom. | <0>1048<0>3695<0>1654<0>3297<0>196<0>3720<0>2375<0>3187<0>1007<0>538<0>3118<0>446<0>1654<0>1275<0>2152<0>3626<0>2020<0>2020<0>108<0>2178<0>1219<0>2092<0>2178<0>649<0>1830<0>3985<0>3339<0>1136<0>1552<0>998<0>348<0>3443<0>3962<0>1370<0>1649<0>2639<0>3173<0>3095<0>807<0>2070<0>623<0>3832<0>2921<0>3509<0>771<0>1488<0>1007<... |
Eudoxia quickly got together with one of Rufinus' court enemies, a eunuch named Eutropius, and together they conspired to topple the prefect, all likely with Stilicho's nod and wink, if not outright support. | <0>2353<0>546<0>3404<0>3379<0>1547<0>807<0>704<0>3239<0>2499<0>2799<0>2507<0>326<0>1957<0>3695<0>521<0>1211<0>684<0>3318<0>2176<0>2054<0>2338<0>1192<0>2531<0>2338<0>2338<0>2404<0>3143<0>3297<0>1830<0>2369<0>2404<0>3985<0>288<0>628<0>443<0>3151<0>1455<0>324<0>289<0>296<0>4051<0>1701<0>294<0>2152<0>2152<0>1899<0>1688<0>6... |
But if Stiliko was thinking that the fall of Rufinus would lead the eastern court to recognize his claim to regency over Constantinople, well, then he was let down. | <0>3840<0>3987<0>3927<0>2762<0>1157<0>1978<0>3443<0>2626<0>3840<0>1703<0>2152<0>3143<0>3297<0>3297<0>2427<0>348<0>446<0>2541<0>3962<0>2338<0>2338<0>978<0>3143<0>2152<0>3642<0>1857<0>2972<0>2178<0>2531<0>2649<0>1671<0>2581<0>1485<0>3364<0>3328<0>1830<0>978<0>3705<0>3982<0>288<0>1778<0>2338<0>2339<0>1232<0>3949<0>2924<0>... |
Utropius and Eudoxia simply stepped into the power vacuum left by the Prefect and controlled Arcadius for their own purposes, rebuffing all of Stilicho's political advances. | <0>2711<0>386<0>1658<0>3404<0>2575<0>2848<0>2848<0>1857<0>1436<0>807<0>1206<0>2848<0>1639<0>2354<0>2564<0>30<0>3579<0>524<0>3695<0>679<0>2338<0>1855<0>446<0>3935<0>1620<0>2626<0>3297<0>2185<0>2176<0>2044<0>1136<0>1680<0>1370<0>2648<0>1136<0>1301<0>3798<0>2178<0>1370<0>3310<0>1973<0>2178<0>1649<0>3404<0>623<0>2354<0>312... |
Shut out once again from the East. In 396, Stilco turned his attention to his own backyard to ensure its stability when he inevitably went back across the Alps to confront Alaric. | <0>497<0>379<0>2819<0>3443<0>2422<0>1441<0>1157<0>3927<0>926<0>368<0>1007<0>1007<0>2152<0>1654<0>3609<0>1300<0>446<0>2569<0>2239<0>3419<0>2152<0>1238<0>2799<0>553<0>1469<0>368<0>850<0>4074<0>2454<0>2354<0>1538<0>2778<0>3385<0>3264<0>3840<0>1352<0>3840<0>196<0>1205<0>2799<0>3404<0>3968<0>2152<0>2152<0>1224<0>280<0>3253<... |
The rise of Eutropius and Eudoxia as enemies of the Vandal general meant that the Goths needed to be brought into Stylacosphere and fast. | <0>3472<0>1007<0>521<0>3443<0>193<0>3927<0>3297<0>289<0>3472<0>2804<0>3404<0>3840<0>289<0>3555<0>4044<0>1494<0>3253<0>1377<0>3022<0>2034<0>2338<0>1578<0>1962<0>1192<0>2210<0>348<0>4044<0>3095<0>3118<0>2152<0>3297<0>1962<0>63<0>234<0>2338<0>2009<0>2668<0>2338<0>2566<0>1849<0>2531<0>2338<0>3151<0>443<0>443<0>2193<0>2239<... |
Alaric must not be allowed to sign a peace deal with Constantinople. He must be brought to heel by the West, and if not converted into an active ally, then at least sidelined for any intra-imperial struggle. | <0>3187<0>1978<0>1981<0>3404<0>1562<0>1541<0>1287<0>2239<0>2700<0>1370<0>1960<0>2178<0>348<0>3404<0>3404<0>196<0>2581<0>2020<0>1370<0>2034<0>1639<0>3665<0>978<0>2419<0>234<0>3762<0>1899<0>1701<0>1578<0>1962<0>2568<0>2338<0>2015<0>1136<0>3239<0>1578<0>3143<0>1238<0>3665<0>649<0>1370<0>1734<0>1488<0>443<0>2700<0>2239<0>2... |
Stilicho's biggest fear, of course, was a vaguely noble one. He feared that Constantinople would give the Gothic king the Roman generalship that he had been craving as the price for an alliance. | <0>2354<0>3927<0>1157<0>2191<0>3695<0>3837<0>2934<0>1726<0>3935<0>3832<0>801<0>2531<0>1370<0>3982<0>3982<0>3982<0>3385<0>1007<0>3840<0>3935<0>1011<0>2924<0>294<0>1547<0>3118<0>1501<0>2338<0>3697<0>3123<0>1007<0>1955<0>1769<0>2092<0>359<0>3973<0>2594<0>955<0>2700<0>3129<0>3628<0>2152<0>2161<0>3832<0>850<0>1401<0>3472<0>... |
Having ethnically barbarian generals was fine, after all he was one. | <0>3443<0>3443<0>2838<0>2867<0>3045<0>1978<0>3968<0>2921<0>3297<0>196<0>1820<0>1370<0>2648<0>3253<0>1701<0>1688<0>1363<0>3705<0>2338<0>1219<0>1136<0>175<0>1578<0>2102<0>1883<0>3404<0>3328<0>1519<0>3239<0>2972<0>2338<0>1488<0>1488<0>1899<0>1442<0>2510<0>3840<0>2339<0>2178<0>3328<0>1805<0>2170<0>1511<0>551<0>3981<0>2068<... |
But having one who doubled as the king of a barbarian nation? | <0>955<0>1025<0>2799<0>595<0>1472<0>3443<0>2838<0>1238<0>2102<0>1309<0>2152<0>679<0>3798<0>120<0>2151<0>1846<0>2499<0>3695<0>2769<0>3253<0>3364<0>2597<0>3118<0>3297<0>3297<0>2626<0>2505<0>443<0>1370<0>1762<0>840<0>3253<0>3697<0>2566<0>623<0>2152<0>2440<0>2152<0>2185<0>614<0>3726<0>1989<0>3981<0>2068<0>2068<0>2068<0>206... |
Well, the implications of that conflict of interest were just too terrifying to contemplate. | <0>1026<0>3545<0>1007<0>3404<0>3783<0>1103<0>4036<0>3237<0>196<0>2838<0>1654<0>1007<0>1981<0>3404<0>1703<0>2581<0>3143<0>1386<0>3180<0>934<0>2020<0>1484<0>998<0>175<0>2221<0>3404<0>3695<0>1007<0>256<0>2199<0>2187<0>3598<0>348<0>1682<0>2338<0>3665<0>3310<0>3116<0>869<0>2239<0>1370<0>2338<0>3253<0>5<0>2406<0>3478<0>3297<... |
So Stillico spent $3.96 marching up and down the Rhine, making deals with the Germans to get them to sit tight, raising new recruits and extra cash along the way. | <0>1026<0>3987<0>3277<0>1880<0>2151<0>3404<0>3187<0>3404<0>3927<0>746<0>2152<0>2052<0>2199<0>1401<0>2848<0>291<0>546<0>1206<0>1205<0>3927<0>2915<0>2354<0>1538<0>3973<0>2541<0>3404<0>3187<0>546<0>2151<0>1846<0>3297<0>623<0>1442<0>196<0>2339<0>2211<0>3705<0>3328<0>1649<0>2700<0>2239<0>2036<0>2324<0>807<0>1501<0>3837<0>32... |
While Stilicho was thus occupied, Alaric continued to plunder the central empire, more or less at will. | <0>2669<0>521<0>2102<0>3660<0>3791<0>3840<0>1352<0>3443<0>3974<0>3840<0>3277<0>2338<0>1618<0>2762<0>1973<0>2648<0>2972<0>2564<0>1331<0>1111<0>649<0>1649<0>1989<0>4007<0>3236<0>3237<0>3695<0>3443<0>2102<0>3987<0>297<0>860<0>2152<0>3297<0>1205<0>2152<0>1206<0>289<0>2152<0>207<0>1331<0>1370<0>3253<0>3253<0>2338<0>4044<0>4... |
Not that he was on some hell-bent-for-leather trip. He too was looking for a political arrangement rather than a military victory. So as plundering campaigns went, it was actually pretty mild. And cities were of course more than welcome to pay their way out of any potential sacking. | <0>789<0>3899<0>2053<0>3594<0>1957<0>679<0>1007<0>3404<0>3695<0>3840<0>1442<0>705<0>1362<0>2020<0>2566<0>2531<0>432<0>1578<0>2338<0>2338<0>2020<0>2338<0>2034<0>2005<0>3899<0>898<0>1007<0>3434<0>405<0>2239<0>2307<0>3129<0>2307<0>2754<0>1545<0>368<0>1206<0>1703<0>3880<0>3840<0>507<0>2338<0>1370<0>4028<0>294<0>165<0>1370<... |
Utropias, for his part, just sort of let Alaric run because he too was looking to strike a deal and didn't want to make enemies with the man he was trying to make his ally. | <0>289<0>3861<0>1842<0>1729<0>1620<0>1409<0>1671<0>1578<0>1973<0>3720<0>546<0>3277<0>2170<0>562<0>1370<0>2700<0>2547<0>4027<0>2170<0>105<0>2683<0>289<0>2922<0>2762<0>1902<0>2163<0>3840<0>2151<0>1260<0>3404<0>1846<0>54<0>1680<0>1338<0>1007<0>2436<0>3840<0>1982<0>724<0>1899<0>1578<0>270<0>2354<0>3325<0>3328<0>2627<0>1208... |
It's also written a few places that the Huns were starting to make trouble near Syria, so it's entirely possible that even had he wanted to, Eutropius would have been unable to muster the resources to do anything about Alaric. | <0>1434<0>3131<0>2102<0>94<0>2436<0>1981<0>1157<0>2626<0>2152<0>1674<0>3297<0>1031<0>1370<0>3291<0>1578<0>63<0>5<0>3344<0>3151<0>1136<0>898<0>3840<0>3297<0>234<0>1973<0>348<0>2354<0>628<0>1756<0>1502<0>649<0>3973<0>3902<0>1902<0>2541<0>2339<0>1219<0>3328<0>3239<0>1582<0>3832<0>546<0>3841<0>1951<0>1738<0>1989<0>3236<0>1... |
In 397 though, Stiliko felt like he was ready to do something about Alaric. | <0>2152<0>1441<0>3899<0>1401<0>1190<0>900<0>3880<0>4001<0>2151<0>3974<0>3297<0>3840<0>207<0>1649<0>2802<0>1108<0>948<0>1213<0>3832<0>1020<0>3840<0>2972<0>3705<0>771<0>2178<0>1649<0>3165<0>3927<0>2151<0>1883<0>998<0>1370<0>1007<0>3043<0>1221<0>3880<0>3840<0>3277<0>254<0>2648<0>684<0>3808<0>234<0>1756<0>649<0>389<0>1639<... |
So he gathered up an army, partially composed of veterans and partially composed of new recruits, and sailed them over to Corinth. | <0>1026<0>3840<0>3118<0>1525<0>3404<0>3404<0>1978<0>3404<0>3404<0>2898<0>690<0>196<0>3237<0>2700<0>3018<0>1857<0>898<0>3187<0>2921<0>3626<0>3609<0>1442<0>1370<0>2034<0>517<0>1486<0>2338<0>3318<0>3516<0>2338<0>2185<0>3180<0>3277<0>1277<0>3151<0>1820<0>1370<0>1723<0>1370<0>3253<0>3545<0>2178<0>1370<0>2176<0>5<0>2338<0>21... |
This was a gutsy move for the Vandal General, as Greece clearly belonged to Constantinople. | <0>2543<0>3927<0>779<0>1020<0>935<0>1010<0>3616<0>1880<0>373<0>3840<0>3840<0>3840<0>978<0>978<0>2338<0>3516<0>2668<0>2338<0>1219<0>1168<0>951<0>2338<0>3151<0>1649<0>2239<0>3466<0>3116<0>3310<0>1010<0>3935<0>2769<0>3153<0>898<0>1401<0>2848<0>1890<0>2700<0>2972<0>1218<0>3180<0>807<0>256<0>2152<0>3297<0>1738<0>614<0>2864<... |
No, Stiliko did not have permission to up and land an army there. | <0>3466<0>649<0>1762<0>2338<0>2178<0>2700<0>2239<0>948<0>1205<0>3594<0>2020<0>5<0>103<0>2034<0>3798<0>2581<0>3297<0>1007<0>1618<0>3671<0>1740<0>1136<0>998<0>2298<0>3299<0>1213<0>1855<0>3328<0>2406<0>4007<0>1542<0>294<0>2815<0>955<0>1973<0>175<0>1031<0>3187<0>1671<0>2020<0>4020<0>1982<0>1982<0>1442<0>1978<0>475<0>2178<0... |
But he did have a moral argument that someone had to do something about the Goths. And are we not one united empire? | <0>1620<0>3809<0>2199<0>3880<0>1547<0>2208<0>1995<0>2102<0>196<0>3297<0>4008<0>2541<0>1147<0>1648<0>1820<0>1675<0>1219<0>1502<0>724<0>1376<0>3003<0>2152<0>538<0>3660<0>1205<0>1157<0>3840<0>1441<0>3516<0>1899<0>644<0>3695<0>3378<0>2627<0>649<0>2762<0>1978<0>3840<0>649<0>1284<0>2648<0>1973<0>980<0>4075<0>3151<0>1639<0>31... |
But as with his campaign in 395, it was a war of positional maneuvering rather than open field battling. | <0>3973<0>1007<0>657<0>3443<0>1026<0>3131<0>1452<0>3927<0>1857<0>553<0>679<0>2769<0>623<0>3297<0>3297<0>2569<0>3642<0>3642<0>807<0>1206<0>3143<0>1136<0>1136<0>3579<0>3151<0>1989<0>3116<0>1989<0>3187<0>690<0>3840<0>3695<0>2092<0>1441<0>2976<0>1883<0>1973<0>3404<0>1620<0>1587<0>2769<0>2152<0>2638<0>3135<0>1441<0>1671<0>1... |
Alaric marched here, Stillico marched there. Alaric marched there, Stillico marched here. | <0>1552<0>1362<0>592<0>1370<0>165<0>1219<0>1370<0>978<0>2354<0>3143<0>926<0>3439<0>2799<0>1016<0>725<0>3237<0>2239<0>2038<0>1026<0>3695<0>2176<0>5<0>1762<0>614<0>3151<0>2199<0>3310<0>226<0>1759<0>1649<0>1155<0>2987<0>1287<0>1287<0>390<0>3466<0>2866<0>1978<0>1902<0>1192<0>2338<0>2239<0>2054<0>2338<0>1301<0>234<0>2151<0>... |
The Vandal General's objective was to checkmate Alric, not destroy him. | <0>2427<0>2769<0>2375<0>1166<0>170<0>2339<0>2152<0>807<0>3404<0>1981<0>3840<0>196<0>1855<0>1910<0>3882<0>3113<0>3918<0>1370<0>2972<0>3540<0>648<0>3698<0>1010<0>2324<0>797<0>1701<0>1208<0>978<0>3151<0>3151<0>1873<0>3545<0>2780<0>2802<0>1262<0>3297<0>1370<0>1973<0>3164<0>2700<0>2404<0>1205<0>1978<0>2541<0>256<0>1494<0>35... |
But again, as with the campaign of 395, Stiliko would be forced to break off his offensive before even Checkmate could be achieved. | <0>551<0>779<0>289<0>623<0>3642<0>3180<0>3935<0>3840<0>2972<0>679<0>1578<0>326<0>2485<0>1442<0>3328<0>1635<0>649<0>1914<0>3705<0>3328<0>30<0>2657<0>2355<0>1136<0>1136<0>2034<0>1649<0>2683<0>2639<0>1541<0>1541<0>3173<0>2547<0>3748<0>2151<0>3840<0>2191<0>256<0>229<0>2020<0>2338<0>2099<0>2848<0>3385<0>3982<0>2338<0>2354<0... |
There is no explicit reason given for Stiliko's decision to withdraw from Greece, and speculation ranges from the general believing that his new troops might not be a match for the Goth should it come down to a battle. | <0>3592<0>1472<0>3927<0>3131<0>3962<0>886<0>3927<0>2921<0>1007<0>3927<0>3075<0>1973<0>2838<0>1624<0>2178<0>3386<0>280<0>3516<0>1502<0>2338<0>2338<0>1747<0>4074<0>2705<0>2338<0>2338<0>103<0>2034<0>2338<0>326<0>2762<0>4044<0>2032<0>1168<0>234<0>2034<0>1675<0>1778<0>1370<0>1370<0>2338<0>348<0>614<0>1973<0>2338<0>1855<0>15... |
To the fact that Utropius had still a code declared a public enemy for waging this unsanctioned war, which undercut the political rationale for the campaign. | <0>353<0>807<0>3131<0>3695<0>3443<0>3695<0>1501<0>289<0>194<0>348<0>1230<0>1675<0>684<0>2595<0>1578<0>219<0>1331<0>4074<0>3832<0>3840<0>3840<0>2972<0>2338<0>3359<0>2972<0>2338<0>2531<0>860<0>361<0>998<0>1618<0>2339<0>3297<0>1172<0>459<0>2152<0>3297<0>3798<0>77<0>4058<0>2700<0>3239<0>1370<0>2566<0>2054<0>1756<0>1701<0>1... |
But I have always suspected that the situation in North Africa might have been a major catalyst. Ah, what situation in North Africa you ask? I'll get to that in a second. | <0>3052<0>3404<0>3443<0>1473<0>2436<0>3962<0>2752<0>2323<0>2315<0>3927<0>1205<0>551<0>807<0>3774<0>2531<0>3798<0>2350<0>3438<0>2152<0>1211<0>3832<0>3927<0>1610<0>1007<0>2422<0>546<0>2638<0>1206<0>3328<0>552<0>1192<0>2338<0>2265<0>2756<0>3239<0>2191<0>1973<0>103<0>1370<0>234<0>3116<0>3236<0>954<0>679<0>1469<0>2838<0>215... |
But before we move on, I should note that this was the second time that Stillico will have Alaric on the run and fail to finish the job. It will also not be the last time. | <0>2156<0>2700<0>3180<0>3404<0>2669<0>1587<0>2102<0>4008<0>2745<0>690<0>229<0>3840<0>2338<0>2697<0>2338<0>1982<0>2700<0>3237<0>3237<0>3237<0>2646<0>1978<0>746<0>2375<0>2185<0>2152<0>3840<0>2669<0>3297<0>2427<0>1547<0>1978<0>3840<0>3277<0>226<0>3927<0>3927<0>2530<0>1230<0>1452<0>648<0>3318<0>1370<0>1502<0>234<0>1746<0>4... |
And eventually, the gossipy backstabbers in Milan will start to wonder if the barbarian general running their army maybe doesn't have Rome's best interests at heart. | <0>1137<0>2152<0>679<0>1547<0>1449<0>2338<0>2312<0>1962<0>3328<0>2627<0>2099<0>521<0>1777<0>1594<0>1224<0>289<0>289<0>2700<0>4074<0>2009<0>2354<0>446<0>454<0>1136<0>2338<0>2338<0>1301<0>1701<0>2178<0>1488<0>2548<0>2541<0>1883<0>1442<0>2178<0>3058<0>955<0>955<0>998<0>3135<0>3277<0>3695<0>3404<0>2019<0>1981<0>2339<0>2338... |
But why else would Stiliko keep letting Alaric get away? | <0>1846<0>545<0>2541<0>3443<0>2120<0>1857<0>1857<0>679<0>934<0>1205<0>3695<0>3840<0>2972<0>2338<0>1762<0>1578<0>3927<0>919<0>196<0>1038<0>3808<0>3135<0>1654<0>3297<0>3973<0>3443<0>3404<0>2898<0>1370<0>2683<0>3686<0>2239<0>239<0>2519<0>390<0>3168<0>2339<0>1192<0>2355<0>2225<0>1044<0>2669<0>3981<0>2068<0>2068<0>2068<0>20... |
The situation in North Africa was that in mid-397, a revolt against Milan had broken out. | <0>2152<0>3927<0>3166<0>1472<0>170<0>850<0>2638<0>2838<0>3118<0>3297<0>1981<0>1902<0>1578<0>2756<0>1310<0>1578<0>1857<0>3515<0>3973<0>3116<0>3003<0>3116<0>3237<0>3686<0>3135<0>1020<0>2769<0>546<0>758<0>2563<0>546<0>3297<0>546<0>2604<0>2899<0>3239<0>746<0>3642<0>3131<0>1206<0>403<0>208<0>300<0>2338<0>432<0>955<0>998<0>2... |
Led by the local governor and likely instigated by utropias. | <0>2700<0>2921<0>2070<0>3297<0>2196<0>3840<0>1955<0>1846<0>3135<0>1955<0>1935<0>2648<0>2054<0>3579<0>3132<0>2700<0>3805<0>3129<0>3284<0>807<0>2338<0>628<0>2551<0>1486<0>2182<0>368<0>2152<0>3285<0>1023<0>3438<0>3158<0>3609<0>290<0>869<0>3116<0>1108<0>2648<0>3328<0>789<0>3385<0>1007<0>1846<0>2161<0>1448<0>1578<0>1221<0>2... |
The governor, a man named Gildo, is an interesting character and it's kind of a shame I haven't gotten to him until just now because I'm about to kill him off. | <0>2427<0>807<0>1472<0>2898<0>3404<0>2531<0>2338<0>1649<0>2700<0>1978<0>679<0>1547<0>2152<0>1011<0>1238<0>290<0>1756<0>2020<0>3029<0>3470<0>1639<0>1649<0>1632<0>1376<0>3003<0>2838<0>746<0>746<0>2152<0>965<0>746<0>2199<0>1230<0>3832<0>546<0>3297<0>2009<0>628<0>1370<0>3052<0>2927<0>348<0>1025<0>3686<0>1525<0>2375<0>1703<... |
Gildo was of Berber descent and had been a close associate of the Theodosian family, serving the elder Theodosius loyally during the campaign against Firmus. | <0>1501<0>386<0>1157<0>170<0>2543<0>1370<0>3786<0>3029<0>3135<0>3840<0>2338<0>2338<0>234<0>196<0>934<0>5<0>1370<0>3239<0>103<0>4074<0>2323<0>361<0>3052<0>3053<0>1989<0>2239<0>3466<0>2182<0>3695<0>2152<0>3297<0>2922<0>3472<0>1973<0>3403<0>3840<0>3840<0>3264<0>3832<0>3695<0>2176<0>389<0>4051<0>368<0>2235<0>234<0>2338<0>9... |
As a reward for this loyalty, the younger Theodosius promoted Gildo up the ranks until by 386, the Berber general was more or less in charge of the entire North African coast. Not counting Egypt, of course. | <0>1594<0>3131<0>3135<0>1441<0>866<0>2541<0>4075<0>2191<0>779<0>389<0>446<0>1488<0>1762<0>443<0>165<0>3328<0>365<0>1287<0>2683<0>955<0>1434<0>3297<0>553<0>3404<0>3404<0>807<0>2569<0>1962<0>941<0>3022<0>1370<0>1723<0>554<0>2369<0>2551<0>348<0>3404<0>3840<0>1020<0>2099<0>1899<0>2338<0>3786<0>5<0>443<0>2740<0>1883<0>1649<... |
With the consent of Theodosius, for the next decade, Gildo served as a nearly autonomous dictator of Africa. | <0>2921<0>1007<0>3935<0>3277<0>2152<0>3927<0>1773<0>3438<0>1309<0>1025<0>1206<0>546<0>3841<0>1370<0>1723<0>1432<0>2972<0>3762<0>3237<0>3237<0>515<0>3151<0>3695<0>2152<0>2375<0>2440<0>1857<0>493<0>1654<0>901<0>2921<0>3461<0>3162<0>1454<0>662<0>386<0>3840<0>2499<0>1020<0>3840<0>3748<0>3695<0>3840<0>1981<0>3180<0>477<0>14... |
Whose principal assignment was maintaining the all important grain shipments bound for Italy. | <0>1025<0>2799<0>690<0>3472<0>2646<0>2700<0>1857<0>3447<0>3594<0>2921<0>2123<0>3840<0>1880<0>3404<0>2531<0>1168<0>1982<0>3762<0>2156<0>2239<0>3786<0>3253<0>2338<0>3307<0>679<0>2581<0>2769<0>3297<0>2578<0>1306<0>1206<0>3697<0>234<0>3697<0>2052<0>3403<0>2745<0>2499<0>3297<0>1649<0>327<0>2422<0>954<0>1442<0>562<0>562<0>54... |
He ruthlessly and effectively carried out his assignment, and so he was left alone. | <0>1301<0>1730<0>690<0>1117<0>1441<0>690<0>3404<0>3592<0>3840<0>3748<0>2669<0>3776<0>3253<0>1811<0>3695<0>2152<0>3592<0>2354<0>2530<0>2638<0>3477<0>3131<0>2338<0>2627<0>1301<0>1472<0>2531<0>3708<0>3782<0>1981<0>1494<0>63<0>63<0>446<0>2338<0>2419<0>1095<0>2185<0>2392<0>2170<0>2987<0>23<0>390<0>2070<0>3695<0>2151<0>3840<... |
But when his patron Theodosius died, Gildo's loyalties and motives became far less clear. | <0>2018<0>1442<0>2541<0>3840<0>546<0>3310<0>374<0>1286<0>1180<0>1007<0>3837<0>2563<0>2581<0>1434<0>3840<0>3277<0>1386<0>2705<0>326<0>1362<0>3579<0>649<0>465<0>1071<0>2307<0>390<0>3164<0>2307<0>4058<0>368<0>3840<0>627<0>2436<0>3840<0>2176<0>2020<0>1883<0>3840<0>3840<0>2669<0>1849<0>77<0>289<0>1196<0>2595<0>1168<0>2178<0... |
Technically, he was a part of the Western Empire and subject to the court of Milan. | <0>1211<0>1525<0>965<0>546<0>5<0>4073<0>1962<0>919<0>1671<0>2034<0>443<0>1820<0>3705<0>2338<0>2176<0>2648<0>2354<0>1747<0>2838<0>3695<0>679<0>2683<0>3151<0>3991<0>3614<0>2137<0>517<0>446<0>1370<0>234<0>840<0>1571<0>2338<0>234<0>2339<0>2548<0>3239<0>3151<0>2178<0>2339<0>3135<0>998<0>1639<0>3132<0>4052<0>2068<0>2068<0>39... |
But he had been on his own for so long that Stilicho viewed him with suspicion, and Eutropius viewed him with hope. | <0>1025<0>3840<0>3143<0>2581<0>3297<0>2152<0>3404<0>2898<0>1306<0>2152<0>1883<0>3840<0>978<0>175<0>1205<0>2338<0>3786<0>1488<0>1488<0>614<0>196<0>1301<0>4074<0>3264<0>3840<0>3840<0>1778<0>1762<0>1219<0>1899<0>2627<0>1486<0>2054<0>2178<0>3665<0>2762<0>2762<0>1830<0>256<0>2638<0>1723<0>3307<0>2018<0>2399<0>3236<0>3237<0>... |
In mid 397, a guildo allowed himself to be swayed by Utropius, and he pledged his loyalty to Arcadius and the court of Constantinople. | <0>1306<0>1858<0>1547<0>4012<0>3370<0>546<0>1469<0>546<0>2848<0>4001<0>2756<0>2338<0>3307<0>3116<0>3237<0>289<0>2152<0>417<0>2921<0>3840<0>2123<0>1902<0>3135<0>1007<0>1362<0>2161<0>2324<0>326<0>1370<0>1370<0>3239<0>649<0>1855<0>2762<0>1370<0>2220<0>3299<0>54<0>684<0>3187<0>4075<0>3246<0>2924<0>0<0>1578<0>948<0>1950<0>4... |
This shift in the political gravity of the empire came so hot on the heels of Stiliko's withdrawal from Greece that I wonder, but I have no evidence to support this bit of speculation, whether Gildo's imminent side-switching wasn't known privately before it was announced publicly. | <0>345<0>368<0>1449<0>2375<0>1469<0>3534<0>2769<0>3840<0>3180<0>1441<0>3840<0>3277<0>2626<0>1117<0>628<0>1362<0>54<0>1486<0>1756<0>2045<0>3996<0>2034<0>1639<0>2648<0>2648<0>5<0>2838<0>3297<0>1830<0>1582<0>3832<0>1978<0>1846<0>2339<0>1857<0>1883<0>1981<0>196<0>919<0>3095<0>1206<0>2176<0>2020<0>234<0>517<0>1205<0>3472<0>... |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.