A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

2. Daughter of Theodosius II. and of Eudocia, born A. D. 422, and betrothed soon after to Valentinian, son of the emperor Honorius, who afterwards was emperor of the West as Valentinian III. and to whom she was married at Constantinople in A. D. 436 or 437. On the assassination of her husband by Maximus (A. D. 455), who usurped the throne, she was compelled to marry the usurper; but, resenting both the death of her husband and the violence offered to herself, she instigated Genseric, king of the Vandals, who had conquered Africa, to attack Rome. Genseric took the city. Maximus was slain in the flight, and Eudoxia and her daughters, Eudocia and Placidia, were carried by the Vandal king to Carthage. After being detained in captivity some years, she was sent with her daughter Placidia and an honourable attendance to Constantinople. [See EUDOCIA, No. 1, and the authorities subjoined there.]

The coins of the empresses Eudocia and Eudoxia are, from the two names being put one for the other, difficult to be assigned to their respective persons. (See Eckhel, Doctrina Num. Veterum, vol. viii. p. 170.)

[J.C.M]