The ambitious Gothic leader Gainas, who had…

The ambitious Gothic leader Gainas, who had begun his military career as a common foot-soldier, but had later commanded the barbarian contingent of Theodosius' army against the usurper Eugenius in 394, combines his forces with those of Stilicho and Eutropius to bring about the fall of Rufinus.

When the imperial army, under the command of the Gainas, reaches the capital city in late November 395 and unexpectedly murders Rufinus, Eutropius, as Arcadius' palace chamberlain, or cubicularius, becomes the most powerful man in the Eastern Empire.