> Flavius Rufinus, the new Praetorian Prefect of the East, whose appointment marked Theodosius reassertion of his authority in the East, was close to the emperor. Flavius Rufinus was a native of Aquitaine and like Theodosius a westerner. He had accompanied Theodosius to Italy holding the position of magister officiorum, and rendered his emperor the service of reconciling him to bishop Ambrose of Milan after the massacre of Thessalonica. But Rufinus' policies in many ways foreshadowed the future. He was a dedicated and rigorous Christian and a patron of ascetics. Naturally he was a strong supporter of Theodosius' policy of alliance with orthodox Christianity. It was probably under the instigation of his fanatical magister officiorum, Flavius Rufinus, a vigorous onslaught launched against pagan cults in a series of laws from the early 390s. Laws addressed to Rufinus combat paganism no less than heresy.