chapter 10 Flashcards
who is Alaric?
A prominent leader of the Goths and the first king of the Visigoths. He played a significant role in shaping the history of the Gothic people and the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
What significant thing did Alaric do?
Alaric fought alongside Roman forces at the Battle of the Frigidus, took control of the Gothic army, and established the Visigoth kingdom.
who is Arcadius?
Co-ruler of the Roman empire, taking the throne of Constantinople.
who is Eutropius?
Arcadius’ personal guard.
who is Rufinius?
Arcadius’ personal head guard who was killed by Stilicho.
who is Flavius Stilicho?
A man of Vandal origin, a military commander in the Roman army who became the most powerful man in the Western Roman Empire.
what is a magister millitum?
Latin for master of soldiers which is the highest rank in Roman army.
Why did Arbogast side with the Roman senate after Valentinian II’s suicide?
Arbogast, expecting Theodosius to remove him from power, acted quickly. He went to the Roman Senate, promising to restore the Altar of Victory and defend the Roman religion from disappearing.
Why was the Battle of the Frigidus a battle of “pious necessity”?
The east and west parts of the Roman Empire had different beliefs. They fought over Christianity and the old Roman religion, and one had to win to stop both sides from destroying each other.
Why was Rufinius murdered, and not Arcadius?
Rufinius, a Roman, could have been a strong emperor. Arcadius was weak and depended on his guard for help. Stilicho, who commanded Arcadius, led an army to remove the threat Rufinius posed to his goals.
How did the historians, define the Goths? Before Alaric, were the Goths a real nation?
The Goths were split into two groups: the Ostrogoths in the east and the Visigoths in the west, named for their locations. Before Alaric, they were not a nation but a collection of Germanic tribes that were sometimes allies and sometimes enemies.
