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The most problematic aspect of Theodosius legacy was his policy towards the Goths. He did manage to reach an agreement with the Goths and ended the war. However, the Goths remained very influential and indeed the terms of the peace agreement meant that they began to dominate many Roman legions. The Goths became so powerful that they became a state within a state. Theodosius after the catastrophe of Adrianople had little option. He was not militarily strong enough to defeat the Goths in battle. He was forced to compromise with the Goths and in doing so he weakened his own and his son’s power. Theodosius had only a small army of recruits and old soldiers called out of retirement. It is possible that if Theodosius had not ended the Gothic War, then the invaders could have destroyed the Empire. Furthermore, the Roman Emperor was only adopting a policy that was previously used successfully by other Emperors. Constantine had adopted a similar policy when some 300,000 Sarmatians entered the Empire earlier in the century <ref> Richard Brzezinski and Mariusz Mielczarek, The Sarmatians 600 BC-AD 450 (Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2002), p. 145</ref>. In the following century, the Goths became stronger and stronger and after 400 they invaded Italy. In 410 a Gothic and allied army sacked Rome. It could be argued that if Theodosius had not compromised with the Goths and had done more to contain them that this would not have occurred <ref>Heather, P. Goths and Romans 332-489 (Oxford University Press; Oxford, 1991), p. 113</ref>. This was something that could not have been foreseen by Theodosius and even if he had he could not have done anything else in the 380’s A.D. There are those who argue that Theodosius diplomatic approach to the Goths was a success and helped them buy some time for the Eastern Roman Empire. The peace treaty with the German invaders allowed a measure of peace to return to the Balkans and possibly even saved Constantinople. Theodosius it is argued helped to save, if not the Western Empire he did much to allow the Eastern Empire to survive. This was very important as the Eastern Empire was able to evolve into the Byzantine Empire, which has had a decisive influence on Eastern Europe to this day and kept the Arabs out of Europe.

[[File: GothicSoldiersMissoriumOfTheodosius.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Gothic soldiers from a contemporary engraving c.4th century AD]]

==The legacy of Theodosius==

The legacy of Theodosius is of huge historic significance. He was the Emperor who ensured that the Roman Empire was truly Christian. He initiated a series of measures that resulted in the death of paganism in many areas of the Empire. Theodosius was also responsible for the Nicene Creed become the state religion. This changed the character of the Early Church and meant that many rival creeds such as the Arian eventually disappeared, over time<ref> Browne, p. 11</ref>. This was to have immense repercussions for the development of Christianity but also, given the importance of religion, on the evolution of European society and culture. Theodosius inherited a disaster after the Roman defeat at Adrianople. He was forced to negotiate with the Goths and make many concessions in order to end the Gothic War. However, this weakened the Empire and contributed to the fall of Rome in 410 AD. On the other hand, Theodosius' policy may have helped to secure the future of the Eastern Empire, which was to continue in some form or other until 1453. Theodosius was an important and able Emperor but it is doubtful that he warrants the title of ‘Great’.

==References==