EUDOSSIA, empress of BISANZIO. - Daughter of the Frankish general Bautone, she married Arcadio on 27 April 395. An intriguing and authoritarian woman, she exercised great influence over her weak husband, especially after the fall of the powerful eunuch Eutropio, in which E. was not uninvolved. At first she showed herself very favourable towards Catholics, supporting them in their struggle against the Arians, honouring the bishops, and making generous donations to the churches.
But her injustices, and especially her laxity of morals, found a fierce opponent in s. Giovanni Crisostomo. The conflict broke out in 401 and had a first outcome in 403 when, at the Synod known as that of the Oak, Crisostomo was deposed and sent into exile. But the people rose up against the unjust condemnation, and the superstitious E. had the exile recalled. Peace lasted scarcely two months. In the autumn of 403 a statue was dedicated to E. with great games and festivities that disturbed the religious services; Crisostomo worked energetically to put an end to that scandal. E.’s wrath erupted terribly; a new synod was convened, and the bishop had to resume the road to exile, where he died. E. followed him shortly afterwards to the grave, on 6 October 404.
EUDOSSIA (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 by 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 due to family disputes, she went to Constantinople to seek protection and assistance 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 her beauty and, after being baptized by Atticus, Patriarch of Constantinople, who gave 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 Eudossia, who later became the wife of Valentinian III.
She took a keen interest in the various religious struggles and sided with Nestorius against Cyril of Alexandria, persisting in her 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 into exile in Jerusalem. She was a poetess and wrote extensively: her verses, though highly praised by Fazio, do not possess 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 three books on the martyrs Cyprian and Justina, of which fragments remain, published in PG 85, 827-64.