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ALTHOUGH the Persians had prepared to take up arms, they were
induced to conclude a truce with the Romans for a hundred years?
Stilicho, the general of the troops of Honorius, was suspected of
having conspired to proclaim his son Eucherius emperor of the East,
and was, in consequence, slain by the army at Ravenna. He had, at
a former period, while Arcadius was still living, conceived bitter
feelings of enmity against his officers, and was hence impelled to
bring the two empires into collision. He caused Alaric, the leader
of the Goths, to secure the office of general of the Romans, and
advised him to seize Illyria; and, having sent forward Jovian, the
appointed prefect, he agreed to join him shortly with Roman troops,
and to reduce its subjects under the rule of Honorius. Alaric quitted
the barbarous region bordering on Dalmatia and Pannonia, where he had
been dwelling, and marched at the head of his soldiery to Epirus;
after remaining for some time in that country, he retreated to Italy,
without having accomplished anything. For he was about to migrate
according to the agreement, but he was restrained by the letters of
Honorius. After the death of Arcadius, Honorius projected a
journey to Constantinople, in behalf of his nephew, to appoint
officers faithful to his security and empire; for he held his nephew in
the place of his son, and he was fearful lest the boy might suffer on
account of his youth, since he would be exposed to plots; but when
Honorius was on the very point of setting out on this journey,
Stilicho dissuaded him from his design, by proving to him that his
presence was requisite in Italy, to repress the schemes of
Constantine, who sought to possess himself of the sovereign power at
Aries. Stilicho then took that one of the sceptres which the Romans
call Labarum, obtained some letters from the emperor, with which he
set out, at the head of four legions, to carry on war in the East;
but a report having been spread that he had conspired against the
emperor, and had formed a scheme, in conjunction with those in power,
to raise his son to the throne, the troops rose up in sedition, and
slew the praetorian prefect of Italy and of Gaul, the military
commanders, and the chief officers of the court. Stilicho himself was
slain by the soldiers at Ravenna. He had attained almost absolute
power; and all men, so to speak, whether Romans or barbarians, were
under his control. Thus perished Stilicho, on a suspicion of having
conspired against the emperors. Eucherius, his son, was also slain.
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