On the reasons of the attack of the Huns of the Northern Black Sea region on the Roman Empire in 395

Abstract

The main purpose of the study is to identify the reasons of the Hunnic attacks on the Roman Empire in 395. Using the method of critical analysis of the content of the works of late Classical and early Medieval times, the authors come to the conclusion about the increasing role of the Barbarian world of the Northern Black Sea region in Roman internal politics at the end of the 4th century. The devastation of Gothic Thrace by the Huns may have been originally sanctioned by the Romans, due to the need to weaken the Goth — federates and to improve relations with the nomads due to the withdrawal of the main Roman combat-ready forces to the war against the usurper Flavius Eugenius. After the death of Theodosius I, the internal situation in the empire was again aggravated by the confrontation between Stilicho and Rufinus — guardians of young and weak emperors. In the course of this struggle, Rufinus deliberately allowed a disastrous Hun invasion of the eastern provinces, thus seeking to return the Eastern army to Constantinople under his command and to improve relations with the Huns.

Keywords

• theodosius i
• rufinus
• stilicho
• the huns
• the goths