“Theodorius amator pacis generisque Gothorum."
On Theodosius’ policies towards the Goths
Theodosius, one of the most significant emperors of the late Roman period, is persistently labelled as a “friend of the Goths." The presents and decorations that he donated to the Gothic leaders or the peace treaty that he made with them, being a new type of alliance with them as subjects, which made allied Gothic soldiers participate in Theodosius’ campaigns, all seem to support this image. However, by looking at the works of contemporary writers, we can detect several contradictions in Theodosius’ policy towards the Barbarians. During his sixteen years’ reign he always wished to solve the German question by using military means, and he changed this policy only under outside pressure. In 382 he made the peace treaty with the Goths only in such an emergency situation, wishing to set no precedent. He mobilized his Gothic allies because of the repeated Barbarian invasions, riots, counter-emperors, yet he placed them at the head of his troops, driving them to the most dangerous point of the battle, thus reducing the power of this tribe living within the Roman Empire. By analysing the speeches of Themistius, his official political eulogizer, we find that emphasising his friendship with the Goths was part of a conscious political propaganda serving Theodosius’ absolute rule. This propaganda proved successful despite the facts, since the myth of his being “Gothic-friendly" survived in the Latin works of Greek writers and maybe in the Gothic oral tradition as well. Later writers, on the other hand, were pleased to use the topos of Theodosius as the Roman emperor who solved the Barbarian problem in a peaceful manner, making an alliance with the Goths to deal with the troubles of their own age.
