Eusebia (empress)

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This article is about the Roman empress Eusebia. For other uses of the word/name Eusebia, see Eusebia (disambiguation).

Eusebia (†360, full name Flavia Aurelia Eusebia, sometimes known as Aurelia Eusebia) was the second wife of Emperor Constantius II.

She was born in Thessaloniki, probably the daughter of Flavius Eusebius, who was consul in 347. Her brothers, Flavius Eusebius and Flavius Hypatius were consuls in 359. She was the Roman empress from 353 until her death in 360. Eusebia exerted considerable influence on the emperor and affected political decisions in the court. She used her influence to promote the doctrine of Arianism[1] and the rise of Julian, who succeeded Constantius II as emperor. Main sources for the knowledge about her life are Julian's panegyric "Speech of Thanks to the Empress Eusebia" in which he thanks her for her assistance, as well as several remarks by the historian Ammianus Marcellinus.[2]

Eusebia is often noted for her wisdom and kindness, as well as her loyalty to Constantius.[3] It has been suggested that Constantius honored her loyalty by renaming the Dioecesis Pontica as Pietas, the Latin equavalent of her Greek name; both the Greek and Roman words refer to piety as well as family loyalty, including the loyalty of a wife to her husband.[4]

[edit] Julian and Eusebia

Eusebia intervened with Constantius II on Julian's behalf on several occasions. When Julian was detained in Mediolanum (now Milan) on charges of plotting to overthrow the emperor, Eusebia's influence gained him Constantius's ear; and the two men were reconciled. With Eusebia's further influence, Julian was sent to Greece to study, away from suspected plots against the emperor. With Constantius facing territorial pressure in the eastern and western portions of the empire, the emperor sought to delegate some responsibility for governing, but wished to avoid giving power to a likely usurper. It was at Eusebia's suggestion again that on 6 November 355 Constantius elevated Julian to the rank of Caesar of the West, with responsibility for governing Spain, Gaul, and Britain. At this same time, Julian married Constantius's sister, Helena. It was during Julian's reign in Gaul that he composed a panegyric poem in praise of Eusebia, thanking her for her kindness and political support. [5] The reasons for Eusebia's sponsorship of Julian are unclear. Julian himself attributes this to her kindness (though this may include literary and political embellishment), while Ammianus Marcellinus offers more politically sophisticated motives.[2] Modern historians Shaun Tougher and J. Juneau suggest that Eusebia's role may in fact have been part of Constantius's own strategy, using her as a "front woman" in negotiations with Julian, as the two men had a contentious relationship. Eusebia may have been able to help to build a valuable alliance where Constantius needed one.[2][4]

Although Eusebia is said to have been instrumental in arranging Julian's marriage to Helena, Ammianus Marcellinus alleges that she was also alleged to having caused Helena to miscarry and bribed a midwife to kill Helena's newborn son.[4][6] Julian's modern biographer Robert Browning notes that this story is unverifiable.[7]

[edit] Infertility and Death

Like Constantius's first wife (whose name is unknown), Eusebia tried unsuccessfully to give birth to a child. It was said that Eusebia embraced Arianism when the efforts of the orthodox bishops to cure her infertility failed.[6] The ancient historian Philostorgius wrote that the Arian bishop and renowned healer Theophilus the Indian was called out of exile to heal her troubled womb. He is said to have healed her malady, but she still bore no children.[8] Eusebia is reported to have died while in the care of a female practitioner who attempted to restore her fertility.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church. v.3. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1884. 635.
  2. ^ a b c Tougher, Shaun (1998). "The Advocacy of an Empress: Julian and Eusebia". The Classical Quarterly, New Series 48 (2): 595–599. 
  3. ^ DiMaio, Michael Jr. "Eusebia Augusta (353-360 A.D.) and Faustina (360-361 A.D.)." De Imperatoribus Romanis:An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors. Accessed on 2007-12-13.
  4. ^ a b c Juneau, J. (1999). "Piety and Politics: Eusebia and Constantius at Court". The Classical Quarterly, New Series 49 (2): 641–644. 
  5. ^ Browning, Robert (1976). The Emperor Julian. Berkeley: University of California Press, 62-76. ISBN 0-520-03731-6. 
  6. ^ a b c Holum, Kenneth G. (1982). Theodosian Empresses: Women and Imperial Dominion in Late Antiquity. Berkeley: University of California Press, 28. ISBN 0520041623. 
  7. ^ Browning, Robert (1976). The Emperor Julian. Berkeley: University of California Press, 84. ISBN 0-520-03731-6. 
  8. ^ Philostorgius. "Chapter 7." Ecclesiastical history/Epitome of book IV.
Preceded by
Julius Constantius' unknown daughter		 Empress of Rome
353–360		 Succeeded by
Faustina

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