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Who was Athanaric, and how did Theodosius I receive him in 381?
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Theodosius I
Theodosius I, portrait on a gold coin from Mediolanum, Italy 378–383.
Athanaric (died 381) was a Visigothic chieftain who led his people from 364 to 376 and was known for fiercely persecuting Christians in Dacia. After being defeated by the Huns in 376, he eventually sought refuge within the Roman Empire.1
In 381, Theodosius I provided Athanaric with a friendly reception. This gesture was part of the emperor's broader strategy to seek new possibilities for coexistence with barbarian groups that could no longer be expelled by force. Following his arrival in Constantinople, Athanaric died there only a fortnight later.21