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eventVerified

Theodosius receives the Gothic leader Athanaric at Constantinople on 11 January 381 and gives him a state funeral days later

This is not the October 382 foedus with the main Gothic body. In the causal graph this event strengthens Social Cohesion, a driver that strengthens Having a say in government — an improving welfare path.

Sources: [1][2]

Read the full account

Context

Public honour to a Gothic king is a cohesion path aimed at splitting or settling armed migrants.

Theodosius I’s documented role is bounded by other offices and collaborators named in the sources below.

Britannica: friendly reception of Athanaric in 381 as part of seeking coexistence. DIR and handbook chronology give 11 January 381. This is not the October 382 foedus with the main Gothic body.

Why it matters

Athanaric’s reception is a cohesion path of high confidence on the episode in the standard file.

Who was responsible

Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.

  • Theodosius I

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    responsibility level 0.4 · verified

What changed

Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.

    1. FactTheodosius receives the Gothic leader Athanaric at Constantinople on 11 January 381 and gives him a state funeral days later
    2. strengthensDriverSocial Cohesion
    3. strengthensIndicators (2)Having a say in government
    Improving path

    impact weight 0.5 · Effect from 11 January 381 · verified

    Athanaric’s reception is a cohesion path of high confidence on the episode in the standard file.

    • Having a say in government

      via Social Cohesion

      Better

      Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)

      Observed

      29.8% of population aged 16-65 years · 8.13 below the normal line (2023)

      Worse than normal

      Two readings: 30.2% of population aged 16-65 years (2021) and 29.8% of population aged 16-65 years (2023).

      20212023

      Above normal = better

    • Rule of Law Gap from the Highest Governance Score

      via Social Cohesion

      Better

      Weakens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)

      Observed

      43.9 Score · 43.9 above the normal line (2024)

      Worse than normal

      26 readings, 1996–2024: rose from 43 Score to 43.9 Score.

      Normal is zero · any amount = worse

Evidence

The sources behind this fact and its verification state.

Verified2 sources on file
  1. 1.De Imperatoribus Romanis — Theodosius ILoyola University Chicago · High credibility · verified
  2. 2.Britannica — Theodosius IEncyclopaedia Britannica · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish

Britannica records the friendly reception of Athanaric in 381. DIR independently places the Gothic diplomacy of these years.

Theodosius I did not file a later UNESCO form, a later Loeb colophon, or a later museum label as a personal act.

Causal path

How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.

  1. ActorTheodosius I
  2. contributed toFactTheodosius receives the Gothic leader Athanaric at Constantinople on 11 January 381 and gives him a state funeral days later
  3. strengthensDriverSocial Cohesion
  4. strengthensIndicatorHaving a say in government

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). Theodosius receives the Gothic leader Athanaric at Constantinople on 11 January 381 and gives him a state funeral days later. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/theo-athanaric-381

https://factrail.ai/facts/theo-athanaric-381

Accessed 16 October 2026.

By the · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed

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