Theodosius I                  379 - 395 A.D.

The son of a famous general, Theodosius's own military prowess caught the eye of Gratian who sent him off with an army to deal with the various barbarian hordes making regular excursions into Roman territory. After scoring some impressive victories on the battlefield Gratian gave Theodosius the ultimate reward by crowning him emperor and formal successor to Valens.

Theodosius then went on to settle a peace treaty with the barbarians and conferred upon them "federate" status and allowed them to occupy Roman territory under the condition that they would defend it against other intruders. The benefit, in principle at least, was that this settlement created a buffer zone for the Romans. In the following years he put down the rebellions headed by Magnus Maximus and then, literally with a little help from the weather, by the puppet emperor Eugenius.

During the waning years of his life he became the first Roman emperor to turn full circle on the issue of religious persecution. After centuries of Christian persecution and then another three quarters of a century whereby Christianity coexisted mostly peacefully with Pagan rituals, Theodosius began the active persecution and steady elimination of all non-Christian sects and their temples. This policy would be vigorously followed by all succeeding emperors. He died in 395 leaving behind a split empire to be ruled by his sons Honorius and Arcadius.

AE2 379--#95 A.D. Nicomedia, Officina 3 5.58 g., 22 mm. Obv. DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG: Helmeted, draped, and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield Rev. GLORIA ROMANORVM: Emperor standing left in a galley piloted by Victory, T in upper left field RIC IX 40b, Van Meter 26	AE2 379--395 A.D. Nicomedia, Officina 1 20 mm. Obv. DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG: Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev. Emperor standing,head right, holding labarum and globe SR 4181, Van Meter 27	AE2 379--395 A.D. Siscia, Officina 1 4.64 g., 23 mm. Obv. DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG: Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev. REPARATIO REIPVB: Emperor standing, head left, holding Victory in left hand and raising kneeling, crowned woman left Van Meter 28	AE2 379--395 A.D. Constantinople, Officina 1 21 mm. Obv. DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG: Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev. VIRTVS EXERCITI: Emperor standing right, holding standard and globe, a captive at his feet, a large Cross in the left center field Van Meter 29
AE2 379--395 A.D. Antioch, Officina 3 24 mm. Obv. DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG: Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev. VIRTVS EXERCITI: Emperor standing right, holding standard and globe, a captive at his feet Van Meter 29