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As neither Arcadius nor Honorius were strong personalities, during their reigns they were dominated by senior ministers: Arcadius by Rufinus and Honorius by the Romanized Vandal ''magister militum'' Flavius Stilicho. The early part of Arcadius’ reign was taken up by intense competition and political jealousies engendered by these ministers. After Rufinus was assassinated in 395, Arcadius’ new advisor Eutropius became the power behind his throne. Not a military person, Arcadius portrayed himself a pious Christian emperor and concerned himself with the issues heresy and paganism about which he enacted a number of laws including forced closure of pagan temples.
While Rufinus hoped to tie himself closer to Arcadius by a marriage with his daughter, Arcadius had other ideas. During a period in April 395, while Rafinus was absent, Arcadius married Aelia Eudoxia, whose guardian was the general Promotus, a bitter enemy of Rafinus. After Rafinus’ assassination, the grand chamberlain Eutropius, who enjoyed a close relationship with Eudoxia, dominated Arcadius. Eutropius also gained the support of the local Orthodox [[clergy]] by encouraging [[John ChyrsostomChrysostom]] to accept the office of [[Patriarch]] of Constantinople in 398. However, Eutropius fell out of favor and, at the urging of Eudoxia, was dismissed by Arcadius, a move that was influenced by the maneuvering of the Gothic general Gainas, who himself was looking for recognition in Constantinople. In the autumn of 399, Eutropius was tried and executed in Chalcedon. However, attempts by Gainas to win the throne were frustrated and in the year 400 he was killed by Huns.
The personalities of John Chyrsostom and Eudoxia clashed as John objected to the influence exerted by Eudoxia on Arcadius in that he felt she used her family’s wealth to exercise control over Arcadius. In return she used her influence against John. Using [[Bishop]] Theophilus of Alexandria, she was able get John [[deposition|deposed]] and exiled in 403. But, the popular uproar and turmoil by the people of Constantinople resulted John’s recall a few days later. The feud between them continued and, in 404, John was exiled again, this time permanently.