Fabia Eudokia

Eudokia or Eudocia (c. 580 – 13 August 612), originally named Fabia, was a Byzantine woman who became the first empress-consort of Heraclius from 610 to her death in 612. She was a daughter of Rogas, a landowner in the Exarchate of Africa, according to Theophanes the Confessor.

Empress

Her birth name was Fabia. She was bethrothed to Heraclius when the future emperor still resided in the Exarchate. The Exarch at the time was her father-in-law Heraclius the Elder.

Heraclius had started a revolt against Phocas in 608. Under unknown circumstances both Fabia and her mother-in-law Epiphania seem to have been captured by Phocas by 610. They spent their captivity in the monastery "Nea Metanoia" (New Repentance) and were used as hostages to prevent Heraclius from besieging Constantinople. The two women were eventually released by members of the Green faction of Byzantine chariot racing events.

They were delivered to Heraclius to the island of Calonymus (now Calomio), leaving him free to launch his successful assault. The Excubitors defected to his side and thus allowed him to enter the city without serious resistance. On 5 October 610, Heraclius was proclaimed Emperor and, on the same day, married Fabia. She took the name Eudokia and was granted the title of Augusta.

Death

Eudokia died on 13 August 612. According to the Chronographikon syntomon of Ecumenical Patriarch Nikephoros I of Constantinople, the cause of death was epilepsy. According to Nikephoros, her funeral was accompanied with an incident revealing how popular she was with the general populace. A maidservant spat out of an upstairs window while the funeral procession was just below it. The coffin was still open and the saliva reached the robes of the corpse. The crowds took offense and the girl was promptly seized and they finished her life in an execution by burning.

Eudokia was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles. Heraclius went on to marry his niece Martina.

Children

Eudokia and Heraclius had only two children:

• Eudoxia Epiphania, a daughter. Born on 7 July 611. She was proclaimed Augusta on 4 October 612.
• Heraclius Constantine, a son, who went on to be Emperor Constantine III. Born on 3 May 612. Crowned co-emperor on 22 January 613.

External links

• An article on Fabia Eudokia by Lynda Garland