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Stilicho was of noble origin, a semibarbarus, with a Vandal father (Oros. Adv. pag. 7.38.1) and a Roman mother (Jer. Ep. 123.16). He entered the élite corps of protectores and in circa 383 CE became tribunus praetorianus militaris. As such he probably participated in the diplomatic mission to Persian court in 383/384 CE (Claud. Stil.1.51–58). When returned in 384 CE, he married Serena, Theodosius I’ niece (Claud. Stil. 1.69–83; L. Ser. 179f.; Olymp. Frag. 2M), and was promoted comes stabuli sacri ( L. Ser. 190–193). Presumably he then received the imperial name Flavius with assured hi…

The Hunnic ruler Attila is by far the most epochal figure of the 5th century CE. From his accession in the mid-430s to his death in 453 CE, he succeeded in briefly creating a realm in Central Europe powerful enough to repeatedly humiliate the eastern Roman court, and devastate various cities in the Balkans and Italy. His main significance in the history of early Christianity lies in the later reception of his meeting with the bishop of Rome, Leo I, in 452 CE.BackgroundAttila was the son of Mundiuc, who in turn was the brother of the Hunnic diarchs Octar and Rua (Jor. Get. 180). We do not know w…

Gaius Octavianus was born on the Palatine in Rome Sep 23, 63 BCE (d. Aug 19, 14 CE), to Gaius Octavius, a homo novus of Velitrae and governor of Macedonia, and Atia, the niece of Julius Caesar (Suet. Aug. 3–4; Tac. An. 1.9–10). Octavian’s father died in 59 BCE, and he was reared by his maternal grandmother, Julia Caesaris, for whom he gave a funeral oration in 51 BCE (Suet. Aug. 8). His stepfather, Lucius Marcius Philippus, introduced him to political life, and he fought with Caesar against Pompeian forces in Spain (45 BCE). Shortly thereafter he was designated…