ARBOGASTE. – Frankish general who, having distinguished himself in the time of Graziano and Teodosio, became magister militum of Valentiniano II; but his excessive interference made him disliked and led to his dismissal. A few days later, Valentiniano was found murdered, and A. sought to have the magister officiorum Flavio Eugenio elected. The latter, however, was not recognized by the Eastern emperor, Teodosio il Grande, who, after preparing an army, clashed with A.’s forces on the Frigidus River, at the foot of the Julian Alps. Following fierce com-
bat, victory went to Teodosio (6 September 394); Eugenio was beheaded and A. took his own life.
BIBL.: G. Morpurgo, A. e l'impero romano dal 379 al 394, Trieste 1883; O. Seeck, Geschichte des Untergangs der antiken Welt, V, Berlino 1913; A. Solari, Il rinnovamento dell'impero romano, Milano-Roma 1940. Paolo Brezzi