Theodosius The Empire at Bay Stephen Williams, Gerald Friell

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.

"One cannot help grappling with historical issues while reading this book. Nonspecialists will find much here to reward their efforts". -- Thomas S. Burns, American Historical Review

"A model of clarity and organization. Within a basically narrative structure it tells the story of the Roman Empire from Adrianople (378 CE) to the Vandal conquest of North Africa (430 CE), with particular emphasis on military and religious policies.... A rare work, in that it is valuable to students and scholars at all levels". -- Choice

"A coherent narrative of the crisis-ridden years of the late fourth century, as well as a useful general discussion of the society, institutions, and structures of the late empire". -- R. Bruce Hitchner, History