Constantius III by Ian Hughes

Author:Ian Hughes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Aciant / Rome
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
Published: 2022-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

413

By 413 events in Gaul had had serious repercussions on the region. The marching and countermarching of several armies over the previous years, plus the ravages of the Alans, Sueves and Vandals before their entry into Hispania, plus the encroachment of the tribes – especially the Franks and the Burgundians – along the Rhine had caused major dislocation. The sources record that by 413 Gaul was suffering from a severe famine.63

In the New Year Athaulf and Honorius finally came to an agreement. Athaulf was to turn against Jovinus and return Galla Placidia in return for grain: the suggestion that at this early date the agreement also included a clause in which they were to be given land in Aquitania is feasible but not confirmed by any of the sources.64 Athaulf quickly defeated the army supporting the usurpers and captured Sebastianus, who was swiftly beheaded. Jovinus fled to Valentia (Valence) where Athaulf laid him under siege. The siege was short-lived: Athaulf’s troops stormed the city, capturing Jovinus, who was sent to Narbonne.65 Here, Dardanus had him executed and the heads of both Jovinus and Sebastianus were sent to Honorius in Ravenna.66 According to Sidonius Apollinaris, the murder of Jovinus earned Dardanus an ‘evil reputation amongst the Gallic aristocracy’.67

Although Athaulf had kept his side of the agreement, thanks to events in Africa Honorius failed to keep his. In Africa the governor Heraclianus had supported Honorius throughout the years when Alaric and Athaulf had been ravaging Italy, not least by withholding grain supplies to Rome when the Senate had elevated Attalus to Augustus. Nominated in 412, in 413 Heraclianus was made consul as a reward for his support against Attalus in 409 and 410. Despite this, in either late 412 or more likely in early 413, Heraclianus cut the grain supply to Italy. Why he acted in this way after serving the regime faithfully for so long is not recorded. However, there are several possible causes.

Firstly, in 408 Heraclianus had killed the magister militum Stilicho and his reward had been promotion to the rank of Comes Africae. Now that Constantius had secured control in Ravenna, doubtless Heraclianus feared for his own safety, expecting Constantius to order his arrest as revenge for the death of Stilicho: Constantius had recently ordered the execution of Olympius, the other major player in the downfall of Stilicho and the man who had appointed Heraclianus as Comes Africae.68 Secondly, his authority in Africa was already being undermined: also in 412, a decree had been issued in Ravenna concerning the appointment of tribunes to track down deserters.69 Although addressed by Honorius to Constantius, it was interpreted by Heraclianus – probably correctly – as the beginning of an attempt to limit his power and finally remove him.

On the other hand, it is possible that the emperor Honorius was attempting to balance the influence of the two most powerful individuals in the West in order to give himself some level of autonomy. In 412 he had given Constantius a certain level of

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