# Theodosius — The City of God character guide

> Theodosius in The City of God by Augustine of Hippo.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Theodosius Augustus, Augustus

**First appearance:** 0002-part-i-book-i

## Who they are

Christian Roman emperor who made Christianity the state religion and opposed paganism.

## In the story

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-ix)

Mentioned as the emperor during whose reign the gates of war were rarely shut.

### [Of the ingratitude of Rome to Scipio, its deliverer, and of its manners during the period which Sallust describes as the best.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxi)

Caesar Augustus is mentioned as the one who deprived the Romans of liberty and inaugurated a fresh regime, submitting all things to a monarch.

### [Of the connection of the wars which with great severity and frequency followed one another before the advent of Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxx)

The second Caesar, adopted son of Julius Caesar, who waged many civil wars and eventually subjected the republic to his rule.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxi)

Cited as an example of one to whom God gave power.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxi)

Mentioned as one of the most benignant emperors (Vespasians) to whom God gave power.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxv)

Avenged Gratian and was associated with him in the empire.

### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxvi)

Theodosius Augustus, the Christian emperor, is praised for his fidelity, humility, penance, and reliance on God's prophecy rather than pagan rites.

### [Of the birth of our Saviour, whereby the Word was made flesh; and of the dispersion of the Jews among all nations, as had been prophesied.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xlvi)

Roman emperor at the time of Christ's birth, under whose reign the world was at peace.

### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-lii)

Mentioned indirectly as a contrast to persecutors; the text refers to Valens the Arian, brother of Valentinian, who persecuted the Church.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-vii)

Mentioned as an emperor in the enlightened age contemporary with Cicero.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/theodosius
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters