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Theodosius II
Theodosius II

Theodosius II

Byzantine, 401 - 450
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BiographyFlavius Theodosius (10 April 401 – July 28, 450), called the Calligrapher, known in English as Theodosius II, was an Byzantine Emperor (reign 402-450), mostly known for the law code bearing his name, the Codex Theodosianus, and the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) built during his reign. The eldest son of Aelia Eudoxia and Byzantine Emperor Arcadius, Theodosius was heavily influenced by his eldest sister Pulcheria, who pushed him towards Trinitarianism. Pulcheria was the primary driving power behind the Emperor and many of her views became official policy. These included her anti-Semitic view which resulted in the destruction of synagogues. He ordered the execution of Gamaliel VI, the Nasi of the Jewish Sanhedrin in 425 for authorizing the building of new synagogues, and abolished the office.
On the death of his father Arcadius in 408, Theodosius became Emperor. Because of his minority however, real power was exercised by the praetorian prefect of the East Anthemius until his dismissal in 413. It was under Anthemius' supervision that the Theodosian land walls of Constantinople were constructed.
In June 421, Theodosius married the poet Aelia Eudocia. They had a daughter, Licinia Eudoxia, whose marriage with the Western Roman Emperor Valentinian III marked the re-unification of the two halves of the Empire, even if for a short time. Theodosius created the University of Constantinople, and died in 450 as the result of a riding accident.
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