xii. 1, 75 ; xvi. 10, 20. S}-mmach. Ep. x. 61. Ambrose, Ep. xvii. m § 6, THEODOSrUS THE GKEAT AND HIS SUCCKSS0E8. 63 that the greatness of Rome was due to idolatry, to which in- deed her subjugated enemies were likewise addicted ; and con- trasted the power of Christianity, which had greatly increased under persecution and had produced whole hosts of consecrated virgins and ascetics, with the weakness of heathenism, wliich, with all its privileges, could hardly maintain the number of its seven vestals, and could show no works of benevolence and mercy for the oppressed. The same petition was renewed in 389 to Theodosius, but again through the influence of Ambrose rejected. The last national sanctuary of the Romans had hope- lessly fallen. The triimaph, which the heathen party gained imder the usurper Eugenius (392-394), lasted but a couple of years ; and after his defeat by Theodosius, six hundred of the most distinguished patrician families, the Annii, Probi, Anicii, Olybii, Paulini, Bassi, Gracchi, &c., are said by Prudentius to have gone over at once to the Christian religion. § 6. Theodosius the Great and his Successors, a.d. 392-550. J. n. Stctfken : Diss, de Theod. M. in rem. christ. meritis. Leyden, 1828. M. Flechiee: Histoire de Theodose le Grand. Par. 1860. The final suppression of heathenism is usually, though not quite justly, ascribed to the emperor Theodosius I., who, on this account, as well as for his victories over the Goths, his wise legislation, and other services to the empire, bears the dis- tinction of the Great, and deserves, for his personal virtues, to be counted among the best emperors of Rome.' A native of Spain, son of a very worthy general of the same name, he was called by Gratian to be co-emperor in the East in a time of great dan- ger from the threatening barbarians (379), and after the death of Valentinian, he rose to the head of the empire (392-395). He labored for the unity of the state and the supremacy of the Catho- lic religion. He was a decided adherent of the IS^icene ortho- doxy, procured it the victory at the second ecumenical council (381), gave it all the privileges of the state religion, and issued a series of rigid laws against all heretics and schismatics. In his treatment of heathenism, for a time he only enforced the ' Gibbon gives a very favorable estimate of his character, and justly charges the heathen Zosimus with gross prejudice against Theodosius. Schlosser and Milman also extol him. I 64: THIRD PEEIOD. A.D. 311-590. existing prohibition of sacrifice for purposes of magic and div- ination (385), but gradually extended it to tlie whole sacrificial worship. In the year 391 he prohibited, under heavy fine, the ^nsitiug of a heathen temple for a religious purjjose ; in the fol- lowing year, even the private performance of libations and other pagan rites. Tlie practice of idolatry was therefore henceforth a political offence, as Constantius had already,