Celibacy and Survival in Court Politics in the Fifth Century AD

Abstract

This chapter focuses on three families: the Theodosians, the Anthemii and the Ardaburii. The reign of the emperor Theodosius II, which spanned almost the entire first half of the fifth century, is remarkable in a number of respects: in its largely unchallenged and relatively peaceful rule, its major legal codification project, and its theological entanglements. The apparent contrast in court dominance by civilian officers at the eastern court is reflected in unusually long-serving office-holders such as the praetorian prefect Anthemius and the magister officiorum Helion. Theodosius and Eudocia became estranged in the early 440s and the empress moved thereafter to live permanently at Jerusalem, away from the court. Like the Anthemii, the marriage alliances of the Ardaburii with imperial women over the course of the late fifth and early sixth centuries saw them maintain their influential role in eastern politics and, at times, come very close to claiming the throne.