Theodosius: The Empire at Bay

Theodosius I was the last Roman emperor to rule over both East and West. After the military disaster of Adrianople he had to rebuild the state by adopting a new policy of cooperation with the barbarians. He also suppressed paganism and established a unified Catholic Church by law. His reign was a turning point in the history of the late Roman Empire. The authors describe the military, political, and religious struggles of this turbulent period and analyze the far-reaching effects of his policies in the fourth and fifth centuries.