The Crime of Desertion in the Decrees of the Emperors Honorius and Arcadius
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7251/FLZB2324035SKeywords:
Late Empire, Roman soldiers, desertion, harborer, The Theodosian code, Honorius, Flavius Stilicho, Roman armyAbstract
The main emphasis in this article is on six imperial decrees issued between AD 396 and 404, addressed to Roman officials regarding de serters and their harborers. The formal authors of these decrees, in accordance with Roman practice, were Honorius and Arcadius as co-emperors. Consid ering that the decrees were issued in Milan and Ravenna, the real author was Flavius Stilicho, the guardian of the young emperor Honorius. As an energetic and capable Roman general of Vandal origin, and the real master of the West ern part of the Empire, Stilicho significantly influenced the legislation of the Late Roman Empire during the massive Germanic invasions of Gaul and Italy. Unlike previous Roman emperors who punished deserters’ harborers, over seers, or property owners with the death penalty or confiscation of property, Stilicho converted these punishments to a fine of two pounds of gold. Harbor ers unable to pay the fine were obliged to provide the state with two recruits of suitable strength and stature for military service for each hidden deserter.
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