STILICHO, stIPI-kO. FLavitts 408). A Roman general, one of the most notable figures in the history of the sinking power of Rome and the German invaders. lie was the son of a Vandal who served as an officer in the Roman Army un der Valens, Emperor of the East (364-378), and himself followed a military career, earning the special recognition of the Emperor Theodo sius (379-39.5), who, in 383, sent him at the head of an embassy to the Court of the Persian King Sapor III. Here, though still a young man, he proved such a successful diplomatist that a very advantageous peace was at once arranged; and on his return to Constantinople, at the end of 384, he married Serena, the Emperor's niece, and re ceived the titles of conies stabuli s«eri and comes domestieorum. During the next decade he was engaged in military operations in various parts of the Empire, attaining the grade of commander in-chief (magistcr minium) of the army in Thrace in 385, and directing the campaign in Britain against the Picts, Scots, and Saxons in the same year. In 3S6 he was battling with his Emperor against the barbarians on the banks of the He brus. In 392 he was most successful in cam paigns against the Bastarnir, Goths. Alain, and Huns, but was prevented from gaining greater glory by the jealousy of the Consul Rufinus, who exercised a great influence over the Emperor. In 394, however, he received a greater honor: for Theodosius made his own son Honorius augustus, giving him the sovereignty of Italy, Spain, Gaul, and Africa, and appointing Stilicho and Serena his guardians. Stilicho found himself on a footing with his hated rival Rufinus. for he be came the real ruler of the \Vest, with headquar ters at Rome, as the young Honorius was wholly indifferent to the cares of State. While Theodo sius lived, Stilicho and Rufinus were forced to maintain a semblance of peace, but no sooner was he dead, in 395. than their rivalry broke out openly. Stilicho had the advantage of a stronger personality and a close connection with the Im perial family, for his daughter Maria was be trothed to his ward, the Emperor Honorius. After successful campaigns on the Rhine, he marched to the East, nominally to olive back the Goths and Huns, whom Rufinus had persuaded to in vade the Empire, but really with the design of overthrowing Rufous, and by connivance with these same Goths Stilicho procured his assassina tion at the close of 395. He was now the virtual
master of the Empire, for Honorius and Arcadius, the joint Emperors, were mere puppets in his hands; but Stilicho never aspired to the throne for himself, remaining as yet loyal to the worth less son of his old patron. His attention. indeed, was now wholly occupied with the formidable in vasion of the (loth Alaric, who had forced his way into the Peloponnesus with a great army, and was abetted by Arcadius from jealousy of Stilicho. Alaric was almost caught in a trap, but managed to escape northward, where he held his own for six years, often making predatory incursions even into Italy. At the end of 402 the final contest was fought out. Alarie had invaded Northern Italy, and the cowardly Honorius fled from Mediolanum (Milan) to Ravenna. Stilicho gathered all the available troops from the west ern provinces and made a brave stand. He was blockaded in Milan, but early in 403 he broke the blockade and won a victory over Alaric at Pol lentia, near Turin, and another at Verona. Alaric withdrew from Italy, hut retained his power at the Court of Arcadius. In 406 a new invasion threatened Italy. A countless horde of Germans and Celts was led down from the north by their chief, Radagaisus, who occupied the heights of nesulte, above Florence, where Stilicho, by a brilliant movement, that was regarded as miraculous, hemmed him in and forced him to surrender. Radagaisus was treacherously put to death and all his followers were sold into slavery. This was the last great achievement of Stilicho. His ultimate downfall was due to his ambition to see his own son Eucherius on the throne of Rome: and in this lie might have sue ceeded, had it not been for the wily Olympius, who gained influence over Honorius and warned him of Stilieho's designs. Honorius now for the first time showed signs of energy. He aroused the soldiers by a clever speech and won over many partisans of Stilicho, who, deserted by his friends, met death by assassination at Ravenna in 408.