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WHILE Theodosius was thus occupied in the wise and peaceful
government of his subjects in the East, and in the service of God,
intelligence was brought that Valentinian had been strangled. Some
say that he was put to death by the eunuchs of the bedchamber, at the
solicitation of Arbogastes, a military chief, and of certain
courtiers, who were displeased because the young prince had begun to
walk in the footsteps of his father, concerning the government, and
contrary to the opinions approved by them. Others assert, however,
that Valentinian committed the fatal deed with his own hands, because
he found himself impeded in attempting deeds which are not lawful in one
of his years; and on this account he did not deem it worth while to
live; for although an emperor, he was not allowed to do what he
wished. It is said that the boy was noble in person, and excellent in
royal manners; and that, had he lived to the age of manhood, he would
have shown himself worthy of holding the reins of empire, and would
have surpassed his father in magnanimity and justice. But though
endowed with these promising qualities, he died in the manner above
related.
A certain man named Eugenius, who was by no means sincere in his
professions of Christianity, aspired to sovereignty, and assumed the
symbols of imperial power. He was hoping to succeed in the attempt
safely; for he was led by the predictions of individuals who professed
to foresee the future, by the examination of the entrails and livers of
animals and the course of the stars. Men of the highest rank among the
Romans were addicted to these superstitions. Flavian, then a
praetorian prefect, a learned man, and one who appeared to have an
aptitude for politics, was noted for being conversant with, every
means of foretelling the future. He persuaded Eugenius to take up
arms by assuring him that he was destined for the throne, that his
warlike undertakings would be crowned with victory, and that the
Christian religion would be abolished. Deceived by these flattering
representations, Eugenius raised an army and took possession of the
gates into Italy, as the Romans call the Julian Alps, an elevated
and precipitous range of mountains; these he seized beforehand and
fortified, for they had but one path in the narrows, and were shut in
on each side by precipices and the loftiest mountains. Theodosius was
perplexed as to whether he ought to await the issue of the war, or
whether it would be better in the first place to attack Eugenius; and
in this dilemma, he determined to consult John, a monk of Thebais,
who, as I have before stated, was celebrated for his knowledge of the
future. He therefore sent Eutropius, a eunuch of the palace, and of
tried fidelity, to Egypt, with orders to bring John, if possible,
to court; but, in case of his refusal, to learn what ought to be
done. When he came to John, the monk could not be persuaded to go to
the emperor, but he sent word by Eutropius that the war would
terminate in favor of Theodosius, and that the tyrant would be slain;
but that, after the victory, Theodosius himself would die in Italy.
The truth of both of these predictions was confirmed by events.
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