THEODOSIAN DYNASTY

(379 - 457 A.D.)

 

Historians often view the Theodosian Dynasty's period as one where the rise of Christianity coincided with the fall of Western Rome. The dynasty produced five Roman emperors, including Theodosius I (“The Great”), who briefly reunited the Roman Empire and established Nicene Christianity as the official state religion. Upon his death, his sons Arcadius (East, later Byzantine) and Honorius (West) inherited and permanently divided the empire. Growing barbarian attacks, especially in the West, caused its collapse, contrasting with the East's stability under Theodosius II and Pulcheria.

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THEODOSIUS THE GREAT

(347 - 395 A..D.)

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Emperor Theodosius I was the last emperor to rule the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. He rose to power in 379 A.D. and is best known for making Nicene Christianity the official state religion, issuing edicts that suppressed pagan practices. A skilled military leader and devout Christian, he defeated rival emperors and barbarian threats, helping to stabilize the empire during a time of fragmentation. His death in 395 marked the permanent division of the Roman Empire between East and West.

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EMPEROR ARCADIUS

(377 - 408 A.D.)

 

Emperor Arcadius was the eldest son of Theodosius I, and upon his father's death, he became the first independent ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire. Perceived as an indecisive emperor, a succession of powerful court officials and his ambitious wife, Aelia Eudoxia, largely dominated him. His reign saw increasing friction with the West, significant Gothic incursions, and internal political struggles. Yet, the Eastern Empire maintained more stability than its Western counterpart during this turbulent period.

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EMPEROR HONORIUS

(384 – 423 A.D.)

 

Son of Theodosius I, Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, Honorius presided over the Western Roman Empire during a period marked by invasions, internal strife, and the sack of Rome in 410 A.D. The younger brother of Emperor Arcadius, he ascended to the throne at the age of 10. Largely influenced by powerful advisors like General Stilicho, his reign is infamous for the Sack of Rome by Alaric's Visigoths in 410 CE, the first time in nearly 800 years that the city had fallen to an enemy. Honorius's perceived weakness and indecisiveness contributed to the empire's territorial losses and increasing instability.

 

AELIA EUDOXIA

 

Aelia Eudoxia (d. 404 CE) was the influential Eastern Roman empress and wife of Emperor Arcadius. Born to a Frankish (modern-day France) general in the Roman army, she married Emperor Arcadius. Despite her husband's weak rule, Eudoxia wielded considerable power at court and proclaimed Augusta in 400 CE, solidifying her status and influence over political and religious affairs in the Eastern Empire. She bore four daughters and a son, Theodosius II, who took over the empire after Arcadius's passing. 

 

 

PULCHERIA

(399 - 453 A.D.)

 

The highly influential Eastern Roman empress and sister of Emperor Theodosius II. Proclaimed Augusta at 15, she effectively served as his co-ruler and regent, deeply shaping court policy and advocating for Orthodox Christianity. She famously championed the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon. After Theodosius's death, she strategically married Marcian to secure the succession, ensuring continued stability in the East during a turbulent era for the Roman Empire.

 

THEODOSIUS II

 

Emperor Theodosius II reigned over the Eastern Roman Empire for over four decades, becoming its longest-ruling emperor. Although often seen as a scholarly and somewhat passive ruler influenced by his powerful sister Pulcheria, he distinguished his reign with significant achievements. He initiated the comprehensive Theodosian Code, a vital collection of Roman laws, and supervised the construction of Constantinople's formidable Theodosian Walls, which protected the city for centuries. His era also witnessed major Christological controversies, notably Nestorianism.

 

 

THE ECCLESIASTICS

 

BISHOP PAULUS OROSIUS

 

Bishop Paulus Orosius was a 5th-century Christian theologian and historian from Hispania (Modern-day Portugal and Spain), a disciple of Saint Augustine. He is best known for his Seven Books of History Against the Pagans. Commissioned by Augustine, this work aimed to refute pagan claims that Rome's calamities were due to the adoption of Christianity, arguing instead that suffering was a consistent part of human history.

 

BISHOP PRISCILLIAN

 

Bishop Priscillian was a Spanish ascetic and theologian who founded a movement known as Priscillianism, which emphasized rigorous asceticism and unique biblical interpretations. Despite gaining followers and becoming Bishop of Ávila, his doctrines faced fierce opposition from other bishops who accused him of heresy, including Gnosticism and Manichaeism. The secular authorities (including Bishop Paulus Orosius), ultimately tried and executed him in Trier, becoming the first Christian to be executed for heresy by the state. This controversial act shocked many of his contemporaries.

 

THE ROMAN GUARD

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GENERAL GAUDENTIUS

 

General Gaudentius was a prominent Roman officer in the late 4th and early 5th centuries CE, most notably as the father of the future powerful general Flavius Aetius. Originally from Scythia, he served under Emperor Theodosius I and later Honorius, holding significant commands like Master of Cavalry. He was involved in destroying pagan temples in Carthage (North Africa) and died around 425 CE.

 

GENERAL STILICHO

(c. 359 - 408 A.D.)

 

A powerful Roman general of Vandal descent who became the de facto ruler of the Western Roman Empire during Emperor Honorius’s reign. He tirelessly defended Italy against Gothic and other barbarian invasions, notably defeating Alaric's Visigoths at Pollentia and Verona. Despite his military successes and unwavering loyalty, political machinations and jealousy at court led to his execution, tragically weakening the West just two years before the Sack of Rome.

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FLAVIUS AETIUS

(c. 390 - 454 A.D.)

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General Flavius Aetius was the Western Roman Empire's dominant military and political figure for two decades. Having spent time as a hostage among the Goths and Huns, he possessed unique insight into barbarian tactics. His greatest triumph was leading a Roman-Visigothic alliance to defeat Attila the Hun at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in 451, earning him the title "Last of the Romans. Despite his critical role in holding the Western Empire together, Emperor Valentinian III ultimately assassinated him.

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THE DRUIDS of BRITANNIA

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Beyond the well-known Druids, ancient Britannia, especially during the Iron Age and early Roman conquest, harbored a rich tapestry of spiritual practices that included animistic beliefs and shamanistic elements.

The native Britons deeply revered the natural world, believing that spirits lived in everything—from trees and rivers to springs, rocks, and even specific places. They frequently cast offerings of valuable items (weapons and metalwork) into watery sites like rivers and bogs, showing a reciprocal relationship with the water spirits or deities.

Structured temples, natural locations such as sacred groves, and stone circles (like Stonehenge, which predates Druidic rule) were vital ceremonial gathering spots. They were often aligned with celestial events, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of cycles and cosmology.

 

SEANÁN THE DRUID PRIEST

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The Great Shaman of southern Britannia and the Prophet of Realm X.

 

ISLENE

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A low-ranking Druid priestess.

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THE INTERPRETERS

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The Abauds, a fictional family with the gift to decipher any language, spoken or written, were inspired by a group of people who developed the Proto-Sinaitic script.

 

Proto-Sinaitic script is the earliest known alphabetic writing system, emerging in Egypt around 1850-1550 BCE. Semitic-speaking peoples developed it, likely West Semitic laborers working in Egyptian mines in the Sinai Peninsula. These laborers adapted Egyptian hieroglyphs to represent the sounds of their language. This innovation paved the way for the later Semitic alphabets, including Phoenician and Hebrew.

 

 

CHANOCH ABAUD

The Interpreter (Deceased)

 

BINA ABAUD

Educator. Wife and Chief Inscriber for the Interpreter (Deceased)

 

SEBINAH ABAUD

Daughter of Chanoch and Bina.

 

TADIUS ABAUD

Son of Chanoch and Bina. Chief Inscriber for Sebinah