Stilicho in Roman Biography

Stili-cho, [Gr. ZtiMxoh ; Fr. Stilicon, ste'le'k6N',] (Flavius,) an eminent commander of the Roman armies, was a son of a Vandal officer. He rose rapidly in the reign of Theodosius, and was sent as ambassador to Persia in 384 a.d., at which date he was a young man. On his return he married Serena, a niece of Theodosius I., and became commander-in-chief of the army. He found a rival and dangerous enemy in Rufinus, the chief minister of Theodosius. In 394 Theodosius appointed Stilicho guardian of his young son Honoiius, to whom he gave the Western Empire. Rufinus at the same time was chief minister of Arcadius, Emperor of the East. After the death of Theodosius, (395,) Stilicho ruled with unlimited authority at Rome. He marched against the Goths, who had invaded Thrace, and who were aided by the treacherous intrigues of Rufinus. This rival was removed by assassination in 395 A.n. Stilicho drove Alaric out of the Peloponnesus in 396 A.D. ; but his victorious progress was checked by the jealousy of Arcadius, who made a treaty with Alaric and took him into his own service. The war was renewed by Alaric, who invaded Italy about 402. Stilicho gained a decisive victory over him at Pollentia (or Polentia) in 403, soon after which the Goths retired from Italy. It is stated that he formed an alliance with Alaric against Arcadius, with a design to make himself master of both the Eastern and Western Empires. In 406 he defeated a host of barbarians who invaded Northern Italy under Radagaisus. The enemies of Stilicho excited the fears and suspicion of Honorius against him, and procured an order for his death. He was massacred at Ravenna in 408 A.D. See Claudian, " De Laudibus Stilichonis:" Gibbon, "History „Jh£ Tjecll -e a"d Fall of the Roman Empire;" C. F. Schulzbl F. Stilicho em Wallenstein der Vorzeit," 1805; Ln Beau, "Histonedu Bas-Empire;" " Nouvelle Biogiaphie Gdmirale."