THEODOSIUS I

born Jan. 11, AD 347, Cauca , Gallaecia died Jan. 17, 395, Mediolanum Theodosius I, detail from an embossed and engraved silver disk, late 4th century; in the Real byname Theodosius The Great, in full Flavius Theodosius Roman emperor of the East (379392) and then sole emperor of both East and West (392395), who, in vigorous suppression of paganism and Arianism, established the creed of the Council of Nicaea (325) as the universal norm for Christian orthodoxy and directed the convening of the second general council at Constantinople (381) to clarify the formula. Additional reading Theodosius' religious policy is outlined in Noel Q. King, The Emperor Theodosius and the Establishment of Christianity (1960). Useful information may also be found in A.H.M. Jones, The Later Roman Empire, 284602: A Social Economic and Administrative Survey, 2 vol. (1964, reprinted 1986).