The Western Roman Empire during the reign of Flavius Honorius

The first emperor to lead the Western Roman Empire was Flavius Honorius Augustus. Born in 384, at the age of nine he was proclaimed Augustus, and in 395, after the death of his father, Theodosius the Great, he ascended the throne. For several years, the country was ruled by the regent, the commander of Stilicho, who did a lot for the empire: he returned the African territories that aspired to Byzantium, repelled the attack of the Visigoths, and also defeated the barbarian tribes that invaded in 405 under the leadership of Radagais. However, these successes were not in vain, because soon the weakened western provinces were seized by rebels led by Constantine III, who usurped power in Roman Spain.

Turbulent times forced Honorius to hide in Ravenna, a city located 10 km from the Adriatic Sea. In 402, Ravenna was proclaimed the capital of the Western Roman Empire and became the political and cultural center of the country. At that time, Rome was in decline: in 408, the ancient city was captured and looted by the army of the barbarian Alaric.

Honorius actively took care of the rooting of Nicene Christianity, signing laws and regulations that regulated church life. By his order, the Council of Carthage was convened in order to eliminate the split between traditional Christianity and the Donatists. Honorius also opposed the teachings of the Celt Pelagius, who argued that original sin in no way affects a person who is able to choose good and evil without God. And the death of the monk Telemachus, who tried to stop the gladiatorial battle in the amphitheater, so impressed the emperor that he completely banned gladiator fights.

In 423, Honorius died, and all power passed to his secretary Flavius John, who served as emperor for two years. After his death, Honorius' nephew Valentinian III ascended the throne. Valentinian was supported by the troops of the Eastern Roman Empire, and the emperor himself led the empire for 30 years.