Eudoxia (Eudocia), Empress of Byzantium

EUDOXIA (EUDOCIA), Empress of Byzantium. - Wife of Theodosius II, born in Athens toward the end of the 4th century, died in Jerusalem in 460. She was called Athenais after the name of her native city and, as the daughter of the sophist philosopher Leontius, received an excellent literary and scientific education. Having been disinherited because of family disputes, she went to Constantinople to ask protection and help from Pulcheria, sister of Theodosius II, regent of the Empire during her brother's minority. She was greatly appreciated at the Byzantine court both for her culture and for her beauty and, after being baptized by Atticus, patriarch of Constantinople, who imposed on her the new name of Aelia E., she married Theodosius II on 7 June 421 and in 423 received the title of Augusta. She had a daughter, Licinia Eudoxia, who was later the wife of Valentinian III.

She took a great interest in the various religious struggles and took the side of Nestorius against Cyril of Alexandria, persisting in error until her later years. She made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 438, but, a few years later, accused of infidelity, she was forced to leave Constantinople and go to Jerusalem in exile. She was a poetess and wrote much: her verses, although greatly appreciated by Photius, are not of great literary value. Particularly remembered are a short poem in honor of Theodosius II, a paraphrase of the books of Daniel and Zechariah, a poetic exposition of the first eight books of the Old Testament, and the three books on the martyrs Cyprian and Justina, of which fragments published in PG 85, 827-64 remain.

Emma Santovino