Abundantius

Who is Abundantius?

Flavius Abundantius was a politician of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Of Scythian origin, he entered the Roman army under emperor Gratian and climbed up its ranks until, around 392 and under emperor Theodosius I, he become magister utriusque militiae. The next year, in 393, he also held the consulate.

The powerful eunuch and courtesan Eutropius, who had been introduced by Abundantius into the court, caused his downfall, because he longed for Abundantius' properties: in 396 Eutropius had the new emperor Arcadius exile Abundantius at Pityus on the Black Sea and give all his properties to Eutropius himself. When Eutropius died, Abundantius succeeded in being transferred to the more comfortable Sidon, where he was still alive in 400.