Aelia Eudoxia consort of Arcadius 401AD Ancient Roman Coin Victory Christ i52843

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Item: i52843

 

Authentic Ancient

Coin of:

Eudoxia –
Roman Empress
– 395-404 A.D. –

 Bronze AE3 18mm (2.12 grams) Struck circa 395-404 A.D.
AELEVDOXIAAVG – Diademed, draped bust right, being crowned by Hand of God.
SALVSREIPVBLICAE  – Victory seated right, holding shield with Chi-Rho
inside on column.

You are bidding on the exact item pictured,

provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime Guarantee of

Authenticity.

The Chi Rho is one of the earliest

christograms

used by Christians. It is formed by superimposing the

first two letters in the Greek spelling of the word

Christ

(

Greek

 : “Χριστός” ), chi = ch and rho = r, in such a way to produce

the monogram

. The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by pagan Greek scribes to

mark, in the margin, a particularly valuable or relevant passage; the

combined

letters Chi and Rho standing for chrēston, meaning “good.”

Although not technically a cross, the Chi Rho invokes the crucifixion

of Jesus as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ. There is early

evidence of the Chi Rho symbol on Christian Rings of the third century.

In

Roman mythology

, Victoria was the personification/Goddess of victory.

She is the Roman version of the

Greek goddess

Nike

, and was associated with

Bellona

. She was adapted from the

Sabine

agricultural goddess

Vacuna
and had

a

temple

on the

Palatine Hill

. Her name (in Latin) means victory. Unlike the Greek Nike, Victoria (Latin

for “victory”) was a major part of Roman society. Multiple temples were erected

in her honour. When her statue was removed in 382 AD by emperor

Gratianus

there was much anger in Rome. She was normally worshipped by

triumphant

generals returning from war.

Also unlike the Greek Nike,who was known for success in athletic games such

as chariot races, Victoria was a symbol of victory over death and determined who

would be successful during war. Appearing on Roman coins, jewelry, architecture, and other arts, Victoria is

often seen with or in a

chariot
. An

example of this is her place upon the

Brandenburg Gate

in Berlin, Germany.

Aelia Eudoxia (died

6

October
404
)

was the Empress consort of the

Eastern Roman

emperor

Arcadius

.

//

 Family

She was a daughter of

Flavius Bauto

, a

Romanised

Frank

who served as

magister militum

in the Western Roman army during the 380s. The identity

of her father is mentioned by

Philostorgius

.[1]

The fragmentary chronicle of John of Antioch, a 7th century monk tentatively

identified with

John of the Sedre

,

Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch

from 641 to 648[2]

considers Bauto to have also fathered

Arbogast

. The relation is not accepted by modern historians.[3]

The History of the Later Roman Empire from the Death of Theodosius I to the

Death of Justinian (1923) by

J. B. Bury
[4]

and the historical study Theodosian Empresses. Women and Imperial Dominion in

Late Antiquity (1982) by Kenneth Holum consider her mother to be

Roman

and Eudoxia to be a “semibarbara”, half-barbarian.

However the primary sources are silent on her maternal ancestry.[1]

 Early

life

Her father was last mentioned as

Roman Consul

with Arcadius in 385. He was already deceased in 388.

[5]

According to Zosimus

, Eudoxia entered started her life in

Constantinople

as a household member of

Promotus

, magister militum of the Eastern Roman Empire. She is presumed to

have been orphaned at the time of her arrival

[1]

Her entry into the household of Promotus may indicate a friendship

of the two magisters

[6]

or a political alliance.[1]

Promotus died in 391. According to Zosimus, he was survived

by his widow Marsa and two sons who were raised alongside the sons and

co-emperors of

Theodosius I

. Said sons were Arcadius and his younger brother

Honorius

. Zosimus asserts that Eudoxia lived alongside one of the surviving

sons in Constantinople. She is therefore assumed to have already been acquainted

with Arcadius during his years as junior partner to his father. Zosimus reports

that Eudoxia was educated by Pansophius. Her former tutor was promoted to bishop

of Nicomedia

in 402. Wendy Mayer considers Eudoxia to have been groomed as a vehicle for the

ambitions of her foster family.

[1]

 Marriage

On

17 January

395,

Theodosius I succumbed to death by

oedema

in Milan
.

Arcadius succeeded him in the Eastern Roman Empire and Honorius in the

Western Roman Empire

. Arcadius was effectively placed under the control of

Rufinus

,

Praetorian prefect

of the East. Rufinus reportedly intended to marry his

daughter to Arcadius and establish his own relation to the

Theodosian dynasty

.

[1]

Bury considers that “once the Emperor’s father-in‑law he [Rufinus]

might hope to become an Emperor himself.”

[4]

However Rufinus was distracted by a conflict with

Stilicho
,

magister militum of the West. The wedding of Eudoxia to Arcadius was

orchestrated by

Eutropius

, one of the

eunuch

officials serving in the

Great Palace of Constantinople

. The marriage took place on 27 April 395,

without the knowledge or consent of Rufinus.

[1]

[4]

For Eutropius it was an attempt to increase his own influence over the emperor

and hopefully ensure the loyalty of the new empress to himself. Rufinus had been

an enemy of Promotus and the surviving household of the magister militum,

inncluding Eudoxia, might have been eager to undermine him.

[1]

Arcadius himself may have been motivated in asserting his own will

over that of his regent.

[7]

Zosimus reports that Arcadius was also influenced by the extraordinary beauty of

his bride but this considered doubtful by later scholars.

[1]

Arcadius was approximately eighteen years old and Eudoxia may be

presumed to be of an equivalent age.

 Empress

consort

In the decade between her marriage and her death, Eudoxia

gave birth to five surviving children. A contemporary source known as pseudo-Martyrius

also reports two

stillbirths
.

The writer is considered to be Cosmas, supporter of

John Chrysostom

who attributed both events to punishment for the two exiles

of John. Zosimus alleges that her son Theodosius was widely rumored to be the

result of her affair with a courtier. Zosimus’ account of her life is generally

hostile to Eudoxia and the accuracy of his tale is doubtful.

[1]

She and

Gainas
, the new

magister militum, are considered to have played a part in the stripping of all

offices and subsequent execution of Eutropius in 399. However the extent and

nature of her involvement are disputed. Nevertheless, she seems to have

increased her personal influence following his demise. On

9 January

400, Eudoxia

was officially given the title of an

Augusta

. She was then able to wear the purple

paludamentum

representing imperial rank and was depicted in

Roman currency

Official images of her in the manner similar to a male

Augustus also went in circulation. Her brother-in-law Honorius would later

complain to Arcadius about them reaching his own court.

[1]

The extent of her influence at matters of court and state has

been a matter of debate among historians. Philostorgius considers her to be more

intelligent than her husband but comments on her “barbarian arrogance”. Zosimus

considers her strong-willed but ultimately manipulated by eunuchs at court and

the women of her environment. Barbarians and Bishops: Army, Church, and State

in the Age of Arcadius and Chrysostom (1990) by J. W. H. G. Liebeschuetz

considers her influence overestimated in primary sources while The Cambridge

Ancient History XIII. The Late Empire A.D. 337-425 (1998) reports her

dominating the government between 400 and her death in 404.

[1]

In 403, Simplicius,

Prefect
of

Constantinople

, erected a statue dedicated to her on a column of

porphyry

and a base of

marble
.

Arcadius renamed the town of

Selymbria

(Silivri)

Eudoxiopolis after her, though this name did not survive.[1]

 Church

policy

Her role in the ecclesiastical affairs of her time is

relatively well-recorded. She became a patron to the faction of the Christian

Church accepting the

Nicene

Creed
and she is reported by

Socrates of Constantinople

to be financing nighttime anti-Arian

processions in Constantinople. She also presided in public celebrations over the

arrival of new relics

of

Christian martyrs

to the city and joined nightly

vigils
over the

remains by herself. She is consistently reported to act alone in religious

matters and to appear alone in public. Arcadius remarkably absent from public

events.

[1]

An interpretation is that Eudoxia had adopted the role of

patron of the Church previously belonging to the Augusti from

Constantine I

onwards.

[1]

Her role would bring her into conflict with

John Chrysostom

, the

Patriarch of Constantinople

. Their initial opposition may have been his

protests over the fall from power and execution of Eutropius.

During his time as Archbishop John adamantly refused to host

lavish social gatherings, which made him popular with the common people, but

unpopular with wealthy citizens and the clergy. His reforms of the clergy were

also unpopular with these groups. He told visiting regional preachers to return

to the churches they were meant to be serving — without any payout.[8]

At about the same time,

Theophilus

, the

Patriarch of Alexandria

, wanted to bring Constantinople under his sway and

opposed John’s appointment to Constantinople. Being an opponent of

Origen
‘s

teachings, he accused John of being too partial to the teachings of that

theologian. Theophilus had disciplined four

Egyptian

monks (known as

“the tall brothers”) over their support of Origen’s teachings. They fled to and

were welcomed by John. John made another enemy in Aelia Eudoxia, the wife of the

eastern Emperor Arcadius

, who assumed (perhaps with justification) that his denunciations of

extravagance in feminine dress were aimed at herself.[9]

Depending on one’s outlook, John was either tactless or

fearless when denouncing offences in high places. An alliance was soon formed

against him by Eudoxia, Theophilus and others of his enemies. They held a

synod
in 403 (the

Synod of the Oak

) to charge John, in which his connection to Origen was used

against him. It resulted in his deposition and banishment. He was called back by

Arcadius almost immediately, as the people became “tumultuous” over his

departure.[10]

There was also an

earthquake

the night of his arrest, which Eudoxia took for a sign of

God‘s anger,

prompting her to ask Arcadius for John’s reinstatement.[11]

Peace was short-lived. A silver statue of Eudoxia was erected

near his cathedral

. John denounced the dedication ceremonies. He spoke against her in

harsh terms: “Again Herodias raves; again she is troubled; she dances again; and

again desires to receive John’s head in a charger,”[12]

an allusion to the events surrounding the death of

John the Baptist

.

Herodias

was a member of the

Herodian Dynasty

. In the Gospels of

Mark

and

Matthew

, Herodias plays a major role in the execution of John the Baptist

execution, using the dance of her daughter

Salome
before

Herod

Antipas
and his party guests to ask for the head of the Baptist as a reward.

Once again John was banished, this time to the

Caucasus
in

Armenia
.[13]

Eudoxia would not survive long. Her seventh and last pregnancy ended in either a

miscarriage or, according to pseudo-Martyrius, a second stillbirth. She was left

bleeding

and died of an

infection

shortly after. Pseudo-Martyrius celebrates her death and considers her a second

Jezebel

[1].

The reference being to a Queen consort of the

Kingdom of Israel

whose conflict with

Elijah
, a

prophet, was described in the

Books of Kings

.

 Children

Eudoxia and Arcadius had five known children. The main source

about their births and deaths is the chronicle of

Ammianus Marcellinus

:

  • Flacilla (born

    17 June

    397
    ). Her

    birth was recorded by

    Ammianus Marcellinus

    . She predeaceased her father. Only sibling not

    mentioned alive at his death in 408.

  • Pulcheria

    (19

    January 399

    – 453). Married

    Marcian
    .

  • Arcadia (3

    April 400

    – 444).

  • Theodosius II

    (10

    April 401

    28 July

    450
    ).

  • Marina (12

    February 403

    – 449).


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Arcadius

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