Olympius, after Stilicho's execution, prompts Honorius to…

Olympius, after Stilicho's execution, prompts Honorius to take a more hostile stance toward the Goths, mostly notably Alaric, who has previously been cooperating with the Romans: he is again declared an enemy of the Emperor.

In the unrest throughout Italy that follows the murder of Stilicho, an anti-barbarian party, led by Olympius, takes power in Rome and incites the Roman troops to massacre the thousands of wives and children of foederati who are serving in the Roman army (as presumed supporters of Stilicho, although they had probably rebelled against him).

Consequently, these thirty thousand men, deprived of their families, flock to Alaric's camp, clamoring to be led against their cowardly enemies, and, substantially increasing his military strength.

The conspirators seem to have let their main army disintegrate, with no policy other than to hunt down supporters of Stilicho.

Italia is left without effective defense forces.

Heraclianus, a co-conspirator of Olympius, becomes governor of the Diocese of Africa, where he controls the source of most of Italia's grain, and uses that power in the interests of Honorius.