Eugenius, after being installed as Western Emperor following the death of the teenaged emperor Valentiian II, changes the imperial administrators.

When Theodosius had left the western half of the empire to Valentinian, he had put his own men in the highest civil offices, to keep a strong grasp on the whole empire.

Eugenius replaces these administrators with others loyal to himself, coming from the senatorial class.

Nicomachus Flavianus the Elder becomes Praetorian Prefect of Italy, his son Nicomachus Flavianus the Younger receives the title of Prefect of Rome, while the new praefectus annonae is Numerius Proiectus.

Eugenius is nominally a Christian, and therefore is reluctant to accept a program of imperial support to Polytheism.

His men, however, persuade Eugenius to use public money to fund 'Pagan' projects, such as the rededication of the Temple of Venus and Rome and the restoration of the Altar of Victory within the Curia (removed by Emperor Gratian).

This religious policy creates tension with Theodosius and …