This is a pretty decent AE4 of Theodosius I. But this thread isn't exactly about the coin itself, but rather the history connected to it. This coin of Theodosius was struck in a city that the emperor himself authorized a terrible massacre against. In 390 AD, thousands were indiscriminately killed in the Massacre of Thessalonica. Its kind of strange, not that I have anything against the coin itself, but I can't help but think of this event every time I see this coin of Theodosius struck in that very city. It almost feels cursed (yes, I still want to keep it). Does anyone else have a coin that is connected to or makes you think about a particular event? In 390 AD, Theodosius was emperor of the eastern half of the Roman Empire, which included Greece and the city of Thessalonica. Within the walls of the city, a Gothic contingent of the Eastern Roman army was garrisoned, under the command of Theodosius's magister militum for Illyricum, Butheric. Barbarian soldiers in the employ of the empire were discriminated against and never really well-liked by the Roman civilians they were entrusted to protect. Chariot races were still going strong in the late Roman era. People would flock to see the races, and support popular charioteers. Even back then, like now, celebrities were often accused of doing objectionable things. In Thessalonica, a well-liked charioteer was detained by Butheric on the charge of committing a homosexual act. This move by the Master of Soldiers did not sit well with the people of the city. A revolt began after Butheric denied the people the release of the charioteer. Butheric and several other of the city's officials were killed in the fighting, and the revolt took on an anti-barbarian element. Even though the garrison was made up of barbarians, these soldiers still represented the emperor and his will. Going against them (and the Roman officials) was tantamount to going against the emperor himself, and Theodosius, in his anger, would not let what he saw as a traitorous act go unpunished. By his direct order, an army was sent to take back Thessalonica by any means necessary. But the emperor soon had a change of heart, and quickly sent a messenger to rescind his earlier orders. The messenger never reached the city in time. The soldiers struck as the inhabitants were in the hippodrome watching the races, and an orgy of blood, rape, and pillage soon followed. Even women and children were not spared. The army treated Thessalonica as if it belonged to a foreign enemy. After the dark deed was done, seven-thousand people lay dead. Many in the empire were saddened, and angry towards their ruler for what he had done. He lost support from many, most prominently that of Ambrose, the bishop of Milan, who in protest refused to carry out Mass with the emperor, and had Theodosius excommunicated from the church. Theodosius shut himself up in his Milanese palace for the next eight months, tearful and dejected, until he approached Ambrose begging him for forgiveness and re-admittance. The bishop only acquiesced after Theodosius swore to enact a law granting those condemned to death a month delay before their execution. The massacre is a stain on the otherwise very successful reign of Theodosius I, who is still known as "the Great" to this day.
An excellent read, VK. Unfortunately, Theodosius' runner wasn't Marathon, or he may have spared himself (not to mention the citizens of Thessalonica) a great deal of grief. I've seen Magnasco's painting of the excommunication on the web before, but I didn't realize it was in Chicago. I'll share this little Concordia bronze, minted a few years prior to the massacre... Theodosius I Ae3; Nicomedia mint, fourth period: 378-383 Obv.: DN THEODO-SIVS PF AVG; Pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust r. Rev.: CONCOR-DIA AVGGG; Constantinopolis, helmeted, seated facing, head r., on throne, holding partly seen spear and globe, r. leg bare, r. foot on prow / A // SMNΓ Reference: RIC IX 31(b) mm5 (p. 258) Scarce
And I may as well throw in this coin as well... Theodosius II AE3, Thessalonica mint: 408-23 Obv.: DN THEO-DOSIVS PF AVG; diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, star behind. Rev.: GLORIA ROMA-NORVM; Two emperors standing facing, heads turned to one another, each holding spear and resting hand on shield; the emperor on right is smaller than the other (Variation A). Reference: RIC X 396 (p. 271)
cool coin and write up vk. i don't have many coins of theodosius, here's the first one i hit sorting through my coin pictures. here's a 15th century coin from milan with (saint, by the time of minting) ambrose on it.
