HONORTIIS, the name of four popes.—IToNomt:s I. has been the subject of much controversy, not alone between Catholics and Protestants, but also between tae Gallivan and Ultramontane schools of Catholics themselves, He was born of it consular family in Campania. Of his early history little is known, except that he took an active part in bringing to a close the disputes which arose in northern Italy about the controversy of the three chapters (q.v.). On the death of Boldface V. in 625, he was elected bishop of Rome. His general administration of church affairs has been favorably judged LT historians; and his name is especially connected with the history of the paschal con troversy in Ireland, and with that of the early Anglo-Saxon church. But his pontificate is particularly memorable on account of the monothelistic heresy. See MoNoTtumtsm. Honorius is connected therewith rather negatively, than by any positive participation, in the dissemination of the monotbelite doctrine. While the controversy was yet new in Pie west, Sergius, patriarch of Constantinople, wrote to Honorius, to explain the monothclistic doctrines in the most favorable light, and to suggest that it would be most desirable to impose silence on both parties, in a dispute which really did not affect the substance of the Catholic doctrine. Honorius, misled, it is alleged, by tins state ment of Sergius, consented, and even expressed himself in language which would appear to condemn the doctrine of two wills in Christ. The Catholic historians, how ever, maintain that in thus disclaiming the belief of two wills in Christ, Honorius merely denied the existence in Christ of two discordant or conflicting wills, that is, of a corrupt and sinful human, will opposed to the divine will. It is not easy, perhaps, to reconcile this with the decree of the sixth general council, in which Honorius is anath ematized in company with many others, of whose heterodoxy there can be no doubt. But the defenders of Honorius reply, that although! the sixth council certainly does include Honorius in one common condemnation with a group of heretical teachers. yet the explanation appended to the condemnation of the former, viz., that "lie bad not hy the exercise of his apostolic authority extinguished the rising flame of heresy. but. by neglecting it, favored its progress." clearly alludes to the error of judgment described above, by which, although himself personally orthodox, he enjoined silence on the con troversy at a time when a more far-sighted ruler would have felt it his duty to interfere by a clear and explicit declaration. On the whole, they maintain that., however Honoring may by his imprudent silence have compromised the interests of orthodoxy, he did riot put forth any such dogmatic declaration as can fairly be regarded, whether by Protest ants or by Gallicans, as irreconcilable with the strict ultramontane doctrine of infalli bility, inasmuch as that doctrine contemplates the pope as "speaking from the apostolic chair." Ilonorins died in 638. Some letters of his are preserved in Labbe's Coll. Con
eiliorum, vol. iii.
HONCrRITTS, FLAVIIIS, second son of Theodosius the great, was b., according to the best authorities, Sept. 9, 384 A.D. On the death of his father, the empire was divided into two parts, Honorius, receiving the western half, with Rome as his capital; tint being only 10 years old, was put under the guardianship of Stilicho (q.v.), who was all his life the de facto ruler of the western empire. Honorins first took up his residence at Milan, where, in 398 A.D., he married Maria, the daughter of Stilicho. The most important events of Hono•ius's reign were the various treaties concluded with the Ger man tribes who dwelt on the Rhine and upper Danube; the rigorous persecution of paganism in :399; and the devastation of northern Italy by Marie and his Visigoths in 400-403. Stilicho was then in Germany; but on his return, he speedily cleared the country- of the invaders, after totally defeating them at Pollentia (Mar.. 403). Another irruption of barbarians, under Rhadagaisus, took place in 405-406, which was again repelled by the powerful arm of Stilieho. Nevertheless, this brave soldier and able minister lost the favor of Ids weak and worthless master, and was treacherously slain at Ravenna, 408 A.D. Alaric was not slow to take advantage of the opportunity afforded him. In 408 A.D. he invaded Italy, and besieged Rome, which only escaped on pay ment of a heavy ransom; and in the following year he again besieged and took it, rais ing Attains to the imperial purple. The death of the invader in 410 A.D., after having a third time besieged Rome, again freed Italy. A new champion of the falling empire arose in the person of Constantino, who suppressed the rebellions of Constantine, Jovinus, and Sallustius in the northern provinces, and of FIeraclian in Africa. He was now appointed the cohbcngne.of Honorius in the consulship. and received in marriage the hand of Placidut, sister to HOhorins, alUng With a share In the empire, which he did not long enjoy, as his death took place a few months after. The Gothic and German tribes had for some time been slowly but steadily encroaching upon the western empire, and Honorius's reign saw Spain, Gaul, and Pannonia, some of the finest provinces. snatched from its grasp. lie died Aug. 27, 423. Honorius's character presents few salient points. He was weak and foolish, and when excited by fear or jealousy, and treacherous, a trait well brought out in his treatment of Stilicho and Constan tine.