EUDOXIA, empress of BYZANTIUM. Daughter of the Frankish general Bauto, she married Arcadius on 27 April 395. A scheming and domineering woman, she exercised great influence over her weak husband, especially after the fall of the powerful eunuch Eutropius, in which Eudoxia was not uninvolved. At first she showed herself very favourable towards Catholics, supporting them in their struggle against the Arians, honouring bishops and making generous donations to churches.
But her injustices and, above all, her lax morals found a fierce opponent in St John Chrysostom. The dispute broke out in 401 and reached a first climax in 403 when, at the so-called Oak Synod, Chrysostom was deposed and sent into exile. The people, however, rose up against the unjust sentence, and the superstitious Eudoxia had the exile recalled. Peace lasted barely two months. In the autumn of 403 a statue was dedicated to her with great games and festivities that disturbed religious services; Chrysostom worked energetically to put an end to this scandal. Eudoxia’s wrath flared up anew; a new synod was convened and the bishop had to resume the path of exile, where he died. Eudoxia followed him to the grave shortly afterwards, on 6 October 404.