In the previous article, we spoke of Emperor Theodosius II’s tenure. We tackled the wars and conflicts that he confronted and his most important achievements, like founding the University of Constantinople in 425 A.D., reviewing the law, and publishing the “law code of Theodosius” in 438.
Likewise, we delineated the legend of the “seven sleepers” who slept during Diocletian’s tenure, then woke up during the fifth year of Theodosius II. This legend is known in Islam by the name of “Companions of the Cave”.
Theodosius II died in 450. He was succeeded by his Pulcheria and her husband Marcian.
Empress Pulcheria and Her Husband Marcian (450-457 A.D.)
Pulcheria’s reign started in 414 when Anthemius gave up his title as prince regent to her. Thus, she became prince regent of young Theodosius. She was also proclaimed Augusta in the selfsame year. She remained highly influential until the eunuch Chrysaphius made his debut. So, she left the imperial palace.
After the death of Theodosius II, Pulcheria came back. She was loved and revered by the people, elites, and high-ranking officials due to her wisdom and politeness, which is why they proclaimed her Empress.
She was so firm and shrewd that she strove to make the country retrieve her old glories and prosperity which were lost during the tenure of her father and brother.
Some historians maintain, “The reason for her rise to power was the deterioration of the Roman Empire during the reign of her father and brother, which made it imperative that she strengthen the state. Thus, the elites proclaimed her Empress due to her wisdom and shrewdness.”
Hence, Pulcheria became the first woman to rule the Roman Empire. No sooner had she become Empress, than she started settling accounts with the State’s enemies, which made her subjects respect her.
Despite the fact that the Empress had vowed virginity, she feared lest schisms happen amongst subjects, being aware that the senate would never allow a woman to rule the country alone. So, she decided to marry a senator, Prince Marcian, who was sixty years old then. She made him co-emperor, provided that he support her policy and respect her vow, which he did.
Having settled down, he ruled justly, which made his subjects love him.
Marcian (450-457 A.D.)
Because he was a soldier’s son, Marcian joined the military. He took part in the war against the Persians in 421. Then he served as commander under the supervision of Ardabur and his father Aspar, commanders of the Roman troops. He fought the Vandals in Africa from 431 to 434, and was imprisoned, then released.
In 450, he married Pulcheria to become co-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. The first thing he ordered was to kill eunuch Chrysaphius, the ex-councilor who was not popular and an enemy of the Empress.
Marcian Confronts Attila, King of the Huns
No sooner had he settled down, than Attila started acting in a haughty manner. He hurried to claim taxes from Marcian. So, the Emperor sent him messengers to tell him that such sacrilegious acts had come to an end, he would never give the Huns anything that he did not like, the Roman Empire would not pay the tax out of compulsion, but out to help the Huns in accordance with the treaty, and that Attila’s threats would be answered back by waging war against him. Also, another sentence was attributed to him, “I have nothing for Attila, save iron, not gold.” No sooner had these messages reached Attila than he was infuriated, and decided to wreak havoc on the Roman Empire.
Some historians maintain that he wrote the Emperor the following, “Your Lord (Attila) orders you to prepare your palace for his arrival. He will come to order you what the country’s welfare requires.” But, news reached Attila that the Roman Empire had changed, its ruler and army had become stronger. So he feared lest he plunge into war. Attila intended to sack the Eastern Roman Empire, having already destroyed the Western Roman Empire. So, he mobilized his armies and marched to Italy to fight the Roman troops. The two armies embarked on fierce battles. Historians maintain that Attila continued to strengthen his troops, giving a speech that enticed them to resist the Romans bravely.
He said, “Fear nothing. I am your commander. The god of the war protects you. I am used to victory, and shall not be deprived from it. The Romans’ cowardice and reluctance guarantee your victory. They are sure to be defeated.” Thus, he encouraged them to fight.
The two armies met, and the Romans emerged victorious. So, their enemies fled and they expelled them from the country. However, Attila was not discouraged. In 452, he headed to Italy, and besieged it for three months, ending up in destroying it. Then, he headed toward the rest of the Italian cities. Reaching Milan, the people gave him its keys without fighting!
Attila destroyed, ransacked, and burnt all the Italian cities. So, the people deserted their country. After the Huns had defeated the Romans, the Emperor sought reconciliation and making a treaty. So, Attila agreed provided that the Emperor marry him off to any princess. Yet, he was murdered on the following day of marriage, thus terminating the Huns’ kingdom of which some historians say, “If it had remained, it would have resembled Alexander the Great’s state insofar as conquests are concerned.” His death was a relief to the Roman Empire.
Pulcheria’s Death
Pulcheria died in 453, which shocked the people. Some historians maintain that she left all her money for the poor.
Marcian’s Tenure (453-457 A.D.)
Marcian solely ruled the Empire after Pulcheria’s death. His tenure lasted for four years. He died in 457, most probably by gangrene, to be buried beside Pulcheria at the Apostles’ Church, thus ending the rule of Theodosius I Dynasty in the East.
During Marcian’s tenure, the Empire enjoyed peace. It was not interrupted by any wars or conflicts, unlike the Western Empire. So much so that Marcian’s tenure was later considered a golden age in the Western Roman Empire.
Marcian gave attention to economic reform, which improved the State’s conditions. He demanded that people should not be given pensions. Rather, they should be provided with jobs. He also alleviated heavy taxes from the people and reduced the court’s expenses. Moreover, he avoided conducting military endeavors abroad. Additionally, he restored the ruined places.
Marcian also helped changing Constantine’s decree which prohibited the marriage of senators to a daughter of the public. In fact, he eased the decree by permitting them to marry “righteous women”.
In 452, Marcian resisted the raids on Syria and Egypt. During his tenure, it came to pass that the Jews of Alexandria fixed a body to a cross (like Christ) on Passover, and fidgeted with it, which provoked Christians and caused a great sedition. Subsequently, Marcian sent an army to calm down the country. In 456, he resisted and overcame some turmoil on the Armenian border.
During his tenure with Pulcheria, the council of Chalcedon convened in 451. In that council, Pope Dioscorus, the twenty-fifth patriarch, was terribly persecuted for rejecting the emperor’s opinion. He was banished, and departed in his exile. Some historians maintain that Marican wanted to get rid of the Pope to punish the Egyptians who considered Rome their enemy. Thus, stories will never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
