390s facts for kids

The 390s were a decade in the Roman Empire that saw big changes. It was a time when the empire, which had been very powerful for a long time, started to face new challenges. Important leaders made decisions that shaped the future of Europe.

The 390s: A Time of Change

The 390s, from the year 390 to 399 AD, were a period of major events for the Roman Empire. This decade marked a turning point, especially with the death of a powerful emperor and the empire being split into two parts. It was a time when the Romans faced many challenges from inside their borders and from groups living outside.

The Roman Empire Divides

A very important event happened in 395 AD: Emperor Theodosius I died. He was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and western parts of the Roman Empire. After his death, the empire was officially divided between his two sons.

• His older son, Arcadius, became the emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. This part of the empire was centered in the city of Constantinople.
• His younger son, Honorius, became the emperor of the Western Roman Empire. This part had its capital in Rome, and later in Ravenna.

This split meant that the two halves of the empire would develop differently over time.

Important Leaders

After Theodosius I, his sons Arcadius and Honorius were quite young. They often relied on powerful generals and advisors to help them rule.

• Arcadius ruled the East. His advisors, like Rufinus and later Eutropius, had a lot of influence.
• Honorius ruled the West. A very important general named Stilicho became his main advisor and protector. Stilicho was a skilled military leader who tried to defend the Western Empire from many threats.

Major Events

The 390s saw several important events that tested the strength of the Roman Empire.

The Gildonic Revolt

One major challenge was the Gildonic revolt. This happened in the years 397 to 398 AD in Africa Province. Gildo was a Roman general who controlled a large part of North Africa. He decided to rebel against the Western Roman Empire. This was a big problem because North Africa was a very important region. It supplied a lot of grain, which was food for the city of Rome. General Stilicho had to send an army to stop Gildo. The revolt was eventually put down, and Gildo was defeated. This helped secure Rome's food supply for a while.

Challenges from Outside

During the 390s, the Roman Empire also faced increasing pressure from different groups of people living outside its borders. These groups, often called "barbarians" by the Romans, included the Visigoths and others. They were often moving into Roman territory, sometimes peacefully and sometimes through conflict. The Roman armies, led by generals like Stilicho, spent a lot of time trying to defend the empire's borders from these groups. These challenges showed that the empire was becoming weaker and harder to defend.

See also

In Spanish: Años 390 para niños