2019-08-22 Thu

A former teacher of grammar and rhetoric, as well as magister scrinorum, Eugenius elected Western Roman Emperor on 22nd August 392. He was the last Emperor to support Roman polytheism. Eugenius was succeeding by Valentinian II and preceding by Theodosius I.

Following the death of Valentinian II, the Frankish general Arbogast, who had probably been the cause of Valentinian II's murder or suicide, elevated Eugenius to the purple (22 August 392). Though himself a Christian, he appointed pagan senators to key positions in the government, leading to conflict with the devoutly Christian Eastern Roman emperor Theodosius. Eugenius, along with Arbogast, were slain at the Battle of the Frigidus in 394. The reign of Eugenius marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.

The above shown silver siliqua issued under his reign from Trier min. The obverse of a coin depicts the pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Eugenius. On the other hand, the reverse of a coin has Roma seated left on cuirass, Victory on globe in right hand, spear in left.

Image Source: Heritage Auctions