HONORIUS, son of Theodosius I., ascended the throne as "emperor of the West" in 395. During the early part of his reign the West was attacked on all sides by barbarian hordes. Italy was saved by the exertions of Honorius' guardian and father-in-law, the Vandal Stilicho (q.v.), but Gaul was overrun by barbarians (winter 406-407) and in 409 the central Government was forced to abandon Britain. After the murder of Stilicho (408), Italy was again invaded by Alaric, the Visigoths, and in 410 Rome was taken and sacked. Alaric died in the same year, and in 412 Honorius concluded peace with his brother-in-law and successor, Ataulphus (Adolphus), who married the emperor's sister Placidia and refnoved with his troops to southern Gaul.
A succession of usurpers arose (411-416) in Gaul and Spain, but were overthrown by Honorius' general, Constantius, who was rewarded with a share in the Government (d. 421). It was only as a supporter of the orthodox church and persecutor of the heathen that Honorius displayed any energy. In 399 the exercise of the pagan cult was prohibited, and the revenues of the temples, which were to be appropriated for the use of the public or pulled down, were confiscated to defray the expenses of the army. Honorius was equally severe on heretics, such as the Donatists and Manichaeans. He is also to be credited with the abolition of the gladiatorial shows in 404 (although there is said to be evi dence of their existence later), a reduction of the taxes, improve ments in criminal law, and the reorganization of the defensores civitatum, municipal officers whose duty it was to defend the rights of the people and set forth their grievances. Honorius at first established his court at Milan, but on the report of the invasion of Italy, fled to Ravenna, where he resided till his death on Aug. See Gibbon, Decline and Fall, chs. 28-33 ; J. B. Bury, Later Roman Empire, i. chs. 1-5, 11. chs. 4, 6 ; E. A. Freeman, "Tyrants of Britain, Gaul and Spain" in Eng. Hist. Rev. (Jan. 1886) ; T. Hodgkin, Italy and her Invaders (Oxford, 1892), i. chs. 13, 15-18; E. V. Wietersheim, Geschichte der Volkerwanderung, ii. 2. Seek, Geschichte des Untergangs der Antiken Welt. v. vi. For the loss of Britain see Collingwood in foam. Roy. Soc. 12. p. 74 seq.