Roman Emperor. He was born circa AD 377, and was declared Augustus and co ruler of the Eastern Empire by his father, the Emperor Theodosius I, in 383 AD. He became Eastern Emperor in AD 395 with his brother ruling in the West, but from the outset was controlled by a minister, Rufinus. Rufinus was soon assassinated by Gothic mercenaries and replaced as the power behind the throne by the eunuch Eutropius. Arcadius' most significant new building work was the erection of a new forum in Constantinople, and in AD 399 he issued an edict ordering the demolition of all remaining pagan temples. In his later years he was dominated by the Praetorian Prefect Anthemius and was more concerned with appearing to be a pious Christian than attending to political and military matters. By the time of his death in AD 408 he was the ruler of his Empire in name only.

Roman Emperor. He was born circa AD 377, and was declared Augustus and co ruler of the Eastern Empire by his father, the Emperor Theodosius I, in 383 AD. He became Eastern Emperor in AD 395 with his brother ruling in the West, but from the outset was controlled by a minister, Rufinus. Rufinus was soon assassinated by Gothic mercenaries and replaced as the power behind the throne by the eunuch Eutropius. Arcadius' most significant new building work was the erection of a new forum in Constantinople, and in AD 399 he issued an edict ordering the demolition of all remaining pagan temples. In his later years he was dominated by the Praetorian Prefect Anthemius and was more concerned with appearing to be a pious Christian than attending to political and military matters. By the time of his death in AD 408 he was the ruler of his Empire in name only.

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