Orthodoxy Imposed at Constantinople

Abstract Theodosius I became emperor on 19 January 379 at the height of the Gothic crisis after the disaster of Adrianople. It would be reasonable to assume that Gratian chose him in the first place because of his qualities as a soldier and politician, as the man most likely to lead the Eastern Empire out of its dangerous situation. But it is clear that from the beginning Theodosius considered that his task had an essential component: the restoration of unity in the Church. For already in August 379 an edict was issued jointly by Gratian and Theodosius forbidding all heresies ‘by divine and imperial law’, and annulling an edict of tolerance which Gratian had issued at Sirmium not long before. It is reasonable to suppose that this dramatic reversal of policy was made under the influence not only of Ambrose, the strong minded bishop of Milan,3 but also of Gratian’s new colleague. In spite of the obvious advantage of facing the crisis in unity based on tolerance, Gratian and ·. Theodosius decided, as Constantine had decided before them, that their responsibility to God for the unity of the Church must have priority.