There was good reason for this as the western empire was effectively overstretched due to the massive invasion of Alans, Suebi and Vandals who, although they had been repulsed from Italy in 406, moved into Gaul on 31 December 406, and arrived in Hispania in 409.
Bil je najmlajši sin cesarja Teodozija I. in njegove prve žene Elije Flacile in brat cesarja Arkadija, ki je od leta 395 do svoje smrti leta 408 vladal v Vzhodnem rimskem cesarstvu.