{"id":6551,"date":"2014-03-30T12:21:48","date_gmt":"2014-03-30T10:21:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/site\/?p=6551"},"modified":"2017-04-06T15:26:43","modified_gmt":"2017-04-06T13:26:43","slug":"%d9%85%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%86%d8%a8%d8%a7-%d8%a5%d8%b1%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%a7-%d9%85%d8%b5%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a9-%d8%ac-49-%d8%a8%d9%80%d9%88%d9%84","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/%d9%85%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%86%d8%a8%d8%a7-%d8%a5%d8%b1%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%a7-%d9%85%d8%b5%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a9-%d8%ac-49-%d8%a8%d9%80%d9%88%d9%84\/","title":{"rendered":"Beautiful Egypt 49 \u2013 \u00abPulcheria\u00bb March 30, 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u00a0 \u00a0We already spoke of Caesar Arcadius whose weakness gave an opportunity to Rufinus and Eutropius to control the state. Then Eudoxia ascended to power, followed by Anthemius the tetrarch of the East. Arcadius died in 408. He was succeeded by his son Theodosius II.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Theodosius II (408-450 A.D.)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0He was Arcadius\u2019 youngest son. He was born in 401 and proclaimed Augustus in 402! Unlike his father, he was prepared to be emperor at an early age. He got an emperor\u2019s education, and learnt language and rhetoric as well. He spoke in both Greek and Latin, showing keenness on learning.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Individual Reign<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Theodosius II ruled individually after his father\u2019s death in 408. Yet, he was only seven at that time. As per the Roman laws, his uncle Honorius was entitled to be prince regent. Yet, the statesmen of Constantinople refused this, deciding to assign the post to Anthemius who was rich, honest, and experienced at the state\u2019s affairs.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0At that time, Anthemius tried to improve the relations between the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. Thus, consulates were established in 409, and four thousand soldiers were sent by Constantinople to help Honorius overcome his enemies. Though these efforts were not that fruitful, the relation between the East and the West were better off than they were upon Theodosius I\u2019s death. Anthemius fortified Constantinople, especially after her enemies had attacked her. In 413, the great circular fence was established. It extended for several miles. There was an internal fence which height was 12 meters and an external one that had a hundred towers, along with defense openings that enabled firing from the fortress roof whenever the city was attacked. The fence is still there.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Anthemius left his post in 414 to rest, assigning Pulcheria, the emperor\u2019s eldest sister the state\u2019s affairs for she wanted to take over. Some historians maintain that Pulcheria deposed Anthemius and ascended to power. Others assert that he might have died at that time. In all cases, however, power was passed on to Pulcheria who was proclaimed Augusta in the same year.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Pulcheria Reigns<\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Some historians maintain that Pulcheria was the only grandchild of Theodosius to take after him his abilities and disposition. She took after him good manners, bravery, and political adeptness. Her strength showed in her early youth. In 412, when she was only fifteen, she convinced her brother of deposing Anthemius, say historians. Likewise, she took up her brother\u2019s education and upbringing: She exerted a lot of effort in having him learn ethics and sciences, such as, the Orthodox creed, charity, and asceticism. She assigned renowned teachers the responsibility of educating her brother.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0She also helped him acquire whatever was necessary for an emperor, such as controlling his emotions, psychological balance, as well as the protocol of the court. This had a great impact on Theodosius\u2019 character: for despite his lack of aptitude, he was serious and respectable. Also, he was kind, merciful, humble, content, and well-mannered. He was interested in engraving, painting, and hunting. In fact, he was called the \u201ccalligrapher\u201d due to his good handwriting.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Yet, as far as governance was concerned, he was quite lazy. So much so, that he would not read the papers he was required to sign! Some historians maintain that Pulcheria wanted to teach him a lesson in that respect. So, she gave him a letter to sign, telling him it was important for the state\u2019s welfare. In that letter, she wrote the following, \u201cI do hereby depose myself and acquit people from my allegiance.\u201d He signed it without reading its content. But, his sister made him read the letter, then tore it up before him that he might be more careful and meticulous in his work.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Some historians assert that Pulcheria undertook the state\u2019s affairs seriously and diligently. She managed them adeptly. Likewise, she was fair, which is why she was able to overcome seditions and solve problems. Thus, her subjects loved and trusted her. Moreover, Pulcheria took care of arts, sciences, and industries. She was good at both Greek and Latin.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0She was only distracted by the Persians\u2019 raiding of Constantinople\u2019s provinces from 420 to 422. So, Theodosius II mobilized the army, fought their king, stopped his conquests and expelled him from the provinces. War lasted until they made a treaty, and the Persians were ousted.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Eudocia <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0In 421, Pulcheria saw that her brother had become successful. So, she started fetching him a virtuous wife, not a rich one. One writer maintains that a pagan philosopher had daughter called Athens. She took knowledge and eloquence after her father. She was also a good writer. She had two brothers who the father had bequeathed all his wealth, leaving nothing to her. Yet, after his death, she needed money and asked her brothers for it. But, they would not give her any. She complained to Pulcheria who admired her sense and sensibility. So much so, that Pulcheria decided to marry her off to her brother. When Theodosius II heard of her, he frequented his sister\u2019s residence. He fell in love with her. They got married after she had been Christianized and her name was changed to Eudocia.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0When her brothers got to know of this marriage, they fled. Yet, she fetched them and appointed them in high positions. Historians maintain that Empress Eudocia was studious, sensible, and open-minded. She wrote a lot.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0After a while, Eudocia yearned to rule the empire, but Pulcheria did not give her the chance. Both women conflicted, which split statesmen into two parties: one supported the sister, and the other the empress. After a while, Pulcheria\u2019s party emerged victorious and she took over. Then, she charged Eudocia of committing adultery with one of the court men. The emperor was infuriated. He suspected his wife, and banished her and the said person. So, she went to Jerusalem where she stayed in seclusion till her death in 460.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Pulcheria played a great role in the ecumenical council that was held in Ephesus in 431 to try Nestor, the patriarch of Constantinople who deviated from the Orthodox faith. Pope Cyril the Great, the 24th<\/sup> patriarch, (also known as the Pillar of Faith), excommunicated Nestor. Likewise, Pope Dioscorus, the 25th<\/sup> patriarch, played a great role in preserving faith in the second council of Ephesus held in 449, and\u2026 Stories will never end in Beautiful Egypt.<\/span><\/h2>\n

General Bishop<\/span><\/h2>\n

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center<\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0We already spoke of Caesar Arcadius whose weakness gave an opportunity to Rufinus and Eutropius to control the state. Then Eudoxia ascended to power, followed by Anthemius the tetrarch of the East. Arcadius died in 408. He was succeeded by his son Theodosius II. Theodosius II (408-450 A.D.) \u00a0 \u00a0He was Arcadius\u2019 youngest son. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":10621,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[6391,6389,8107,127,394,393],"class_list":["post-6551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-almasry-alyoum","tag-beautiful-egypt","tag-pulcheria","tag-127","tag-394","tag-393"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6551"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6551"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45346,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6551\/revisions\/45346"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}