Emperor of the Western Roman Empire at the age of eight, Honorius ruled over one of the most chaotic periods of Roman History. During his reign, the empire witnessed both the abandonment of Britain and the 'Sack of Rome, ' two historically significant events. This period also saw the rise of rebellions and usurpations from within the Roman Empire and invasions from beyond its borders. The one constancy in this period that provided a sense of stability for the Empire's citizens was the emperor who reigned for thirty years and defeated all others who attempted to steal his throne. The name of Honorius has been considerably blackened by his enemies and is almost forgotten. This is due to the 'Sack of Rome' and the abandonment of Britain, for which many blamed Honorius personally, despite the measures he took in attempting to prevent the two events. It is this image of Honorius as being feeble and weak that has most successfully travelled through history. This is the third edition of Brandon M. Thomas' Emperor Honorius: A Short History