Gainas replaced the Magister Militum Leo after Leo failed to put down invasions led by Tribigild. Gainas too failed, although he balmed his failure on Arcadius' cubicularius Eutropius, whom he had executed.

Frustrated further by his inability to control the situation, Gainas ordered the removal of more ministers. Gainas' compromises with Tribigild led to rumors that he had colluded with his fellow Goth and, when he returned to Constantinople in 400, riots broke out and 7,000 of his fellow Goths were murdered.

In response, Gainas and his forces attempted to flee back across the Hellespont, but their rag-tag fleet was met and destroyed by a third Goth, the Fravitta. After this battle, Gainas and his few remaining forces were caught by the Huns under Uldin while trying to escape north of the Danube. Gainas was killed and his head was sent to Arcadius ca. 400 as a gift.

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