Eugenius

Eugenius, who ruled as Roman emperor of the West from 392 to 394 CE, occupies a unique place in Roman history as a symbol of the waning influence of paganism. A teacher of rhetoric by training, Eugenius was not from a military or aristocratic background, making his rise to power largely due to the machinations of Arbogast, a powerful Frankish general who controlled the Western Empire’s army.

Eugenius became emperor following the suspicious death of Valentinian II in 392 CE. Arbogast, unable to claim the throne himself as a non-Roman, selected Eugenius as a pliable figurehead. Despite this, Eugenius sought to assert himself and navigate the tumultuous religious and political climate of the late 4th century. His reign marked the final significant attempt to restore the traditional pagan practices of Rome in defiance of the Christian dominance established by Theodosius I in the East.

Eugenius’s government aligned itself with the pagan aristocracy, restoring temples, reintroducing funding for pagan rituals, and promoting officials sympathetic to the old religion. This caused significant tension with Theodosius, a staunch Nicene Christian who sought to enforce religious orthodoxy across the empire.

Conflict became inevitable as Eugenius and Arbogast marched into northern Italy to challenge Theodosius. In 394 CE, the two sides clashed at the Battle of the Frigidus. Despite initial successes, Eugenius’s forces were ultimately defeated. Legend holds that a violent windstorm hindered his army, interpreted by Christian sources as divine intervention. Eugenius was captured and executed shortly thereafter, marking the end of paganism’s political influence in the Roman Empire.

Eugenius’s brief reign is remembered as a final stand for the ancient Roman religious traditions, highlighting the deep cultural and ideological divides that defined the late empire. His defeat symbolized the triumph of Christianity as the dominant faith of Rome.

The Roma Aeterna collection usually prefers a solidus over a siliqua because siliqua are quite small coins and are often have defects. But soldi of Eugenius are very are and expensive so a siliqua is the practical alternative. Given the small canvas on which to engrave, the portrait on this coin is nicely executed. The flan is round with no clipping, and the legends are basically complete. The dark toning in the fields contrasts with the lighter devices to give a circulated cameo effect.