A.D. 381 heretics, pagans, and the dawn of the monotheistic state ( PDFDrive )

spaces’ - in other words, to keep away from cities and large shrines.
However, the stifling of free debate went hand in hand with conciliation with
the pagans, and now Theodosius turned to Rome. There was good reason for
such a move. With Arcadius established as his successor in the east, it was
crucial that Theodosius obtained for his younger son Honorius, born to his first
wife Flaccilla in 384, an equal status in the west. For this he needed the support
of the Senate and the aristocracy in Rome, many of whom were still pagans, so
in July Theodosius, with Honorius in his retinue, set off south to the ancient, if
now largely redundant, capital of the empire.
Theodosius was welcomed to the Senate with a panegyric from a Gallic
orator, Pacatus, which was so rooted in traditional formulas as to give no hint
that the emperor was a Christian. It was noted how Theodosius’ birthplace in
Spain was also that of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian, and how his military
victories were reminiscent of those of Scipio Africanus, who had defeated the
great Carthaginian general Hannibal. He was declared to have the virtues of
revered emperors such as Augustus and Trajan - clemens (clemency), civilitas
(courtesy) and amicitia (friendship), the last of which, Pacatus opined, was
clothed in purple, wreathed in gold and installed upon the imperial throne. There
was even a comparison of the emperor to Jupiter and Hercules. Appropriate
mention was made of Honorius and none of Valentinian, who had been sent to
Trier to preside over Gaul. The senators must have been thankful that their
support for Maximus was overlooked and they dutifully decreed the making of
statues of Theodosius and his co-emperors, each with the inscription
‘exterminator of usurpers and founder of public safety’. Theodosius responded
as the senators must have hoped. Pacatus was rewarded with the proconsulship
of the province of Africa and the aristocratic Symmachus with a consulship
(although Theodosius refused to restore the Altar of Victory to the senate house).
Symmachus must have been particularly relieved, as he had actually visited
Maximus in Milan to offer him his allegiance. The most successful of these
pagan aristocrats was Nichomachus Flavianus, who was awarded a prefecture
with responsibility for Italy, Illyricum and Africa. 5
By 390, Theodosius’ position was relatively secure. There was no powerful
interest group able to challenge him, he had avoided any major military
disasters, and his compromises seem to have led to domestic peace, even if there
was some concern over the troublesome activities of Christian mobs. His change
of orders in the Callinicum affair, though deeply ominous in that it appeared to
legitimise unprovoked Christian attacks on Jews, was achieved quietly and