| Aelia Flaccilla | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | |||||
.jpg) Bust thought to represent Flaccilla | |||||
| Roman empress | |||||
| Tenure | 379–386 | ||||
| Born | Aelia Flaccilla | ||||
| Died | 386 | ||||
| Burial | |||||
| Spouse | Theodosius I | ||||
| Issue | |||||
| |||||
| Dynasty | Theodosian | ||||
| Religion | Nicene Christianity | ||||
Saint Aelia Flaccilla | |
|---|---|
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | 14 September |
Aelia Flavia Flaccilla (died 386) was a Roman empress and first wife of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I. She was of Hispanian Roman descent. During her marriage to Theodosius, she gave birth to two sons – future Emperors Arcadius and Honorius – and a daughter, Aelia Pulcheria.
According to Laus Serenae ("In Praise of Serena"), a poem by Claudian, both Serena and Flaccilla were from Hispania.[1]
A passage of Themistius (Oratio XVI, De Saturnino) has been interpreted as identifying Claudius Antonius, Praetorian prefect of Gaul from 376 to 377 and Roman consul in 382, to be her father. However the relation is considered doubtful.[2] In 1967, John Robert Martindale, later one of several article writers in the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, suggested that the passage actually identifies Antonius as the brother-in-law of Theodosius. However the passage is vague enough to allow Afranius Syagrius, co-consul of Antonius in 382, to be the brother-in-law in question.[3] The only kin clearly identified in primary sources was her nephew Nebridius, son of an unnamed sister.[4]
In 376, Flaccilla married Theodosius I, the son of Count Theodosius, a high ranking general under Valentinian I.[5] At the time Theodosius had withdrawn to civilian life in Cauca, Gallaecia after the mysterious execution of his father.[6]
Their first son Arcadius was born prior to the elevation of his parents on the throne. Their second son Honorius was born on 9 September 384. Their daughter Pulcheria has been suggested to have been born prior to the elevation of her parents to the throne due to another passage of Laus Serenae. She predeceased her parents as mentioned in the writings of Gregory of Nyssa.[7]
The Eastern Roman emperor Valens was killed at the Battle of Adrianople on 9 August 378. His nephew and co-emperor Gratian appointed Theodosius, magister militum per Illyricum, to succeed Valens on 19 January 379. At this point Flaccilla became Roman empress and was given the title Augusta.[8]
She was a fervent supporter of the Nicene Creed. Sozomen reports her preventing a conference between Theodosius and Eunomius of Cyzicus who served as figurehead of Anomoeanism, the most radical sect of Arians.[9] Ambrose and Gregory of Nyssa praise her Christian virtue and comment on her role as "a leader of justice" and "pillar of the Church".[5]
Theodoret reports on her works of charity, personally tending to the disabled. He quotes her saying that "To distribute money belongs to the imperial dignity, but I offer up for the imperial dignity itself personal service to the Giver." [5][10] According to the Chronicon Paschale, the Palatium Flaccillianum of Constantinople was named in her honor.[4]
She died in the year 386,[4] shortly after her daughter.[7] Gregory of Nyssa went on to deliver a funeral oration for her.[11]
She is commemorated as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox Church, her feast day being 14 September.[5][12]
