 After securing from the ineffectual Arcadius (Honorius' brother and Emperor of the East) the Master-Generalship of Illyricum in 397 CE, Alaric, king of the Goths, immediately began to plan for the invasion of the Western Empire, ruled in Honorius' name by the barbarian Stilicho, Master-General of the west.Alaric invaded Italy in late 401, crossing the Alps and the River Adige, and Stilicho dashed north to bring reinforcements from Gaul for the defense of the emperor's court at Milan.By the time the Master-General returned he found that Alaric had taken Milan, while Honorius was chased into refuge at Hasta.