Family of Arcadius + AUGUSTUS and Aelia + EUDOXIA

Husband:	Arcadius + AUGUSTUS (377-408)
Wife:	Aelia + EUDOXIA (365-404)
Children:	Flacilla (397- )
	Pulcheria (399- )
	Arcadia (400- )
	Theodosius II + (401-450)
	Marina (403- )

Husband: Arcadius + AUGUSTUS

Wife: Aelia + EUDOXIA

Name:	Aelia + EUDOXIA
Sex:	Female
Father:	Bauto + (340-385)
Mother:	-
Birth	0365
Occupation		Empress Consort of Byzantium
Title	frm 0395 to 0404 (age 29-39)	Empress Consort of Byzantium
Death	6 Oct 0404 (age 38-39)

Child 1: Flacilla

Name:	Flacilla
Sex:	Female
Birth	17 Jun 0397

Child 2: Pulcheria

Name:	Pulcheria
Sex:	Female
Birth	19 Jan 0399

Child 3: Arcadia

Name:	Arcadia
Sex:	Female
Birth	3 Apr 0400

Child 4: Theodosius II +

Child 5: Marina

Name:	Marina
Sex:	Female
Birth	12 Feb 0403

Note on Husband: Arcadius + AUGUSTUS

Arcadius (Latin: Flavius Arcadius Augustus; 377/378 – 1 May 408) was the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Emperor from 395 to his death. He was the eldest son of Theodosius I and his first wife Aelia Flaccilla, and brother of the western emperor Honorius. A weak ruler, his reign was dominated by a series of powerful ministers and by his wife, Aelia Eudoxia.

Arcadius was born in Hispania, the elder son of Theodosius I and Aelia Flaccilla, and brother of Honorius, who would become a Western Roman Emperor. His father declared him an Augustus and co-ruler for the Eastern half of the Empire in January, 383. His younger brother was also declared Augustus in 393, for the Western half.

 

As emperors, Honorius was under the control of the Romanized Vandal magister militum Flavius Stilicho while Arcadius was dominated by one of his ministers, Rufinus. Stilicho is alleged by some to have wanted control of both emperors, and is supposed to have had Rufinus assassinated by Gothic mercenaries in 395; though definite proof of Stilicho's involvement in the assassination is lacking, the intense competition and political jealousies engendered by the two figures compose the main thread of the first part of Arcadius' reign. Arcadius' new advisor, the eunuch Eutropius, simply took Rufinus' place as the power behind the Eastern imperial throne.

 

Arcadius was also dominated by his wife Aelia Eudoxia, who convinced her husband to dismiss Eutropius, who was holding the consulate, at the height of his power, in 399. That same year, on the 13th July, Arcadius issued an edict ordering that all remaining non-Christian temples should be immediately demolished.

 

Eudoxia's influence was strongly opposed by John Chrysostom, the Patriarch of Constantinople, who felt that she had used her family's wealth to gain control over the emperor. Eudoxia used her influence to have Chrysostom deposed in 404, but she died later that year. Eudoxia gave to Arcadius four children: three daughters, Pulcheria, Arcadia and Marina, and one son, Theodosius, the future Emperor Theodosius II.

 

Arcadius was dominated for the rest of his rule by Anthemius, the Praetorian Prefect, who made peace with Stilicho in the West. Arcadius himself was more concerned with appearing to be a pious Christian than he was with political or military matters, and he died, only nominally in control of his empire, in 408.

 

 

Solidus of Arcadius.[edit] Character and worksIn this reign of a weak emperor dominated by court politics, a major theme was the ambivalence felt by prominent individuals and the court parties that formed and regrouped round them towards barbarians, which in Constantinople at this period meant Goths. In the well-documented episode that revolved around Gainas, a number of Gothic foederati stationed in the capital were massacred, the survivors fleeing under the command of Gainas to Thrace, where they were tracked down by imperial troops and slaughtered and Gainas dispatched. The episode has been traditionally interpreted as a paroxysm of anti-barbarian reaction that served to stabilise the East. The main source for the affair is a mythology à clef by Synesius of Cyrene, Aegyptus sive de providentia, (400)[1] an Egyptianising allegory that embodies a covert account of the events, the exact interpretation of which continues to baffle scholars. Synesius' De regno, which claims to be addressed to Arcadius himself, contains a tirade against Goths.

 

A new forum was built in the name of Arcadius, on the seventh hill of Constantinople, the Xerolophos, in which a column was begun to commemorate his 'victory' over Gainas (although the column was only completed after Arcadius' death by Theodosius II).

 

The Pentelic marble portrait head of Arcadius (illustration) was discovered in Istanbul close to the Forum Tauri, in June 1949, in excavating foundations for new buildings of the University at Beyazit.[2] The neck was designed to be inserted in a torso, but no statue, base or inscription was found. The diadem is a fillet with rows of pearls along its edges and a rectangular stone set about with pearls over the young emperor's forehead.²

Note on Wife: Aelia + EUDOXIA

Aelia Eudoxia (died 6 October 404) was the Empress consort of the Eastern Roman emperor Arcadius.

 

She was a daughter of Flavius Bauto, a Romanised Frank who served as magister militum in the Western Roman army during the 380s. The identity of her father is mentioned by Philostorgius.[1] The fragmentary chronicle of John of Antioch, a 7th century monk tentatively identified with John of the Sedre, Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch from 641 to 648[2] considers Bauto to have also fathered Arbogast. The relation is not accepted by modern historians.[3] The History of the Later Roman Empire from the Death of Theodosius I to the Death of Justinian (1923) by J. B. Bury[4] and the historical study Theodosian Empresses. Women and Imperial Dominion in Late Antiquity (1982) by Kenneth Holum consider her mother to be Roman and Eudoxia to be a "semibarbara", half-barbarian. However the primary sources are silent on her maternal ancestry.[1]

 

[edit] Early lifeHer father was last mentioned as Roman Consul with Arcadius in 385. He was already deceased in 388.[3] According to Zosimus, Eudoxia started her life in Constantinople as a household member of Promotus, magister militum of the Eastern Roman Empire. She is presumed to have been orphaned at the time of her arrival [1] Her entry into the household of Promotus may indicate a friendship of the two magisters [3] or a political alliance.[1]

 

Promotus died in 391. According to Zosimus, he was survived by his widow Marsa and two sons who were raised alongside the sons and co-emperors of Theodosius I. Said sons were Arcadius and his younger brother Honorius. Zosimus asserts that Eudoxia lived alongside one of the surviving sons in Constantinople. She is therefore assumed to have already been acquainted with Arcadius during his years as junior partner to his father. Zosimus reports that Eudoxia was educated by Pansophius. Her former tutor was promoted to bishop of Nicomedia in 402. Wendy Mayer considers Eudoxia to have been groomed as a vehicle for the ambitions of her foster family.[1]

 

[edit] MarriageOn 17 January 395, Theodosius I succumbed to death by oedema in Milan. Arcadius succeeded him in the Eastern Roman Empire and Honorius in the Western Roman Empire. Arcadius was effectively placed under the control of Rufinus, Praetorian prefect of the East. Rufinus reportedly intended to marry his daughter to Arcadius and establish his own relation to the Theodosian dynasty.[1] Bury considers that "once the Emperor's father-in-law he [Rufinus] might hope to become an Emperor himself." [4]

 

However Rufinus was distracted by a conflict with Stilicho, magister militum of the West. The wedding of Eudoxia to Arcadius was orchestrated by Eutropius, one of the eunuch officials serving in the Great Palace of Constantinople. The marriage took place on 27 April 395, without the knowledge or consent of Rufinus.[1][4] For Eutropius it was an attempt to increase his own influence over the emperor and hopefully ensure the loyalty of the new empress to himself. Rufinus had been an enemy of Promotus and the surviving household of the magister militum, including Eudoxia, might have been eager to undermine him.[1] Arcadius himself may have been motivated in asserting his own will over that of his regent.[5] Zosimus reports that Arcadius was also influenced by the extraordinary beauty of his bride but this is considered doubtful by later scholars.[1] Arcadius was approximately eighteen years old and Eudoxia may be presumed to be of an equivalent age.

 

[edit] Empress consortIn the decade between her marriage and her death, Eudoxia gave birth to five surviving children. A contemporary source known as pseudo-Martyrius also reports two stillbirths. The writer is considered to be Cosmas, supporter of John Chrysostom who attributed both events to punishment for the two exiles of John. Zosimus alleges that her son Theodosius was widely rumored to be the result of her affair with a courtier. Zosimus' account of her life is generally hostile to Eudoxia and the accuracy of his tale is doubtful.[1]

 

She and Gainas, the new magister militum, are considered to have played a part in the stripping of all offices and subsequent execution of Eutropius in 399. However the extent and nature of her involvement are disputed. Nevertheless, she seems to have increased her personal influence following his demise. On 9 January 400, Eudoxia was officially given the title of an Augusta. She was then able to wear the purple paludamentum representing imperial rank and was depicted in Roman currency. Official images of her in the manner similar to a male Augustus also went in circulation. Her brother-in-law Honorius would later complain to Arcadius about them reaching his own court.[1]

 

The extent of her influence at matters of court and state has been a matter of debate among historians. Philostorgius considers her to be more intelligent than her husband but comments on her "barbarian arrogance". Zosimus considers her strong-willed but ultimately manipulated by eunuchs at court and the women of her environment. Barbarians and Bishops: Army, Church, and State in the Age of Arcadius and Chrysostom (1990) by J. W. H. G. Liebeschuetz considers her influence overestimated in primary sources while The Cambridge Ancient History XIII. The Late Empire A.D. 337-425 (1998) reports her dominating the government between 400 and her death in 404.[1]

 

In 403, Simplicius, Prefect of Constantinople, erected a statue dedicated to her on a column of porphyry and a base of marble. Arcadius renamed the town of Selymbria (Silivri) Eudoxiopolis after her, though this name did not survive.[1]

 

[edit] Church policy

John Chrysostom confronting Aelia Eudoxia, in a 19th Century painting by Jean-Paul Laurens.Her role in the ecclesiastical affairs of her time is relatively well-recorded. She became a patron to the faction of the Christian Church accepting the Nicene Creed and she is reported by Socrates of Constantinople to be financing nighttime anti-Arian processions in Constantinople. She also presided in public celebrations over the arrival of new relics of Christian martyrs to the city and joined nightly vigils over the remains by herself. She is consistently reported to act alone in religious matters and to appear alone in public. Arcadius remarkably absent from public events.[1]

 

An interpretation is that Eudoxia had adopted the role of patron of the Church previously belonging to the Augusti from Constantine I onwards.[1] Her role would bring her into conflict with John Chrysostom, the Patriarch of Constantinople. Their initial opposition may have been his protests over the fall from power and execution of Eutropius.

 

During his time as Archbishop John adamantly refused to host lavish social gatherings, which made him popular with the common people, but unpopular with wealthy citizens and the clergy. His reforms of the clergy were also unpopular with these groups. He told visiting regional preachers to return to the churches they were meant to be serving — without any payout.[6]

 

At about the same time, Theophilus, the Patriarch of Alexandria, wanted to bring Constantinople under his sway and opposed John's appointment to Constantinople. Being an opponent of Origen's teachings, he accused John of being too partial to the latter's teachings. Theophilus had disciplined four Egyptian monks (known as "the Tall Brothers") over their support of Origen's teachings. They fled to and were welcomed by John. John made another enemy in Aelia Eudoxia, the wife of the eastern Emperor Arcadius, who assumed (perhaps with justification) that his denunciations of extravagance in feminine dress were aimed at herself.[7]

 

Depending on one's outlook, John was either tactless or fearless when denouncing offences in high places. An alliance was soon formed against him by Eudoxia, Theophilus and others of his enemies. They held a synod in 403 (the Synod of the Oak) to charge John, in which his connection to Origen was used against him. It resulted in his deposition and banishment. He was called back by Arcadius almost immediately, as the people became "tumultuous" over his departure.[8] There was also an earthquake the night of his arrest, which Eudoxia took for a sign of God's anger, prompting her to ask Arcadius for John's reinstatement.[9]

 

Peace was short-lived. A silver statue of Eudoxia was erected near his cathedral. John denounced the dedication ceremonies. He spoke against her in harsh terms: "Again Herodias raves; again she is troubled; she dances again; and again desires to receive John’s head in a charger,"[10] an allusion to the events surrounding the death of John the Baptist. Herodias was a member of the Herodian Dynasty. In the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, Herodias plays a major role in the execution of John the Baptist execution, using the dance of her daughter Salome before Herod Antipas and his party guests to ask for the head of the Baptist as a reward.

 

Once again John was banished, this time to the Caucasus in Armenia.[11] Eudoxia would not survive long. Her seventh and last pregnancy ended in either a miscarriage or, according to pseudo-Martyrius, a second stillbirth. She was left bleeding and died of an infection shortly after. Pseudo-Martyrius celebrates her death and considers her a second Jezebel.[1] The reference being to a Queen consort of the Kingdom of Israel whose conflict with Elijah, a prophet, was described in the Books of Kings.

 

[edit] ChildrenEudoxia and Arcadius had five known children. The main source about their births and deaths is the chronicle of Ammianus Marcellinus:

 

Flacilla (born 17 June 397). Her birth was recorded by Ammianus Marcellinus. She predeaceased her father. Only sibling not mentioned alive at his death in 408.

Pulcheria (19 January 399 - 453). Married Marcian.

Arcadia (3 April 400 - 444).

Theodosius II (10 April 401 - 28 July 450).

Marina (12 February 403 - 449).

Sources

1	A Cameron and J. Long, "Barbarians and Politics at the Court of Arcadius" (Berkely/Oxford).

2	"Wikipedia".