His name suggests a
Persian origin. In 393, Varanes was at the court in
Constantinople. He probably followed Emperor
Theodosius I to the West in 394, in his war against the usurper
Eugenius. He remained there, after Theodosius' death, under his son and successor
Honorius. In 408, after the death of
Stilicho (August 22), he was appointed
Magister peditum, but a little later his office was given to the
Magister equitum Turpilio. The following year he was again in Constantinople, where he probably had received the office of
Magister militum praesentalis; on this occasion, he suppressed a popular revolt caused by a food shortage. He had the collaboration of Arsacius and
Synesius. He was appointed
Consul for the year 410, without colleague. That year
Rome was besieged by the
Visigoths of
Alaric I, who would eventually
sack the city; the usurper
Priscus Attalus chose
Tertullus as consul, but neither the Western Emperor Honorius nor the Eastern court of
Theodosius II recognised him. == Bibliography ==