The Best Books About Awesome Women You’ve Never Heard Of
Shepherd: Discover the Best Books Well that came out of the blue! Last summer I received an intriguing invitation to contribute to a new website which featured themed authors' recommended reading lists on a topic of my choice. Of course I chose "awesome women you've...
Princess Anicia Juliana
Roman Princess Anicia Juliana Patron of the arts. (b. 462 d. 527/8)Today brings us to Princess Anicia Juliana, the last of my Theodosian Women. Although we don’t know if she ever received the title noblissima puella ("Most Noble Girl"—the Latin title closest to modern...
Empress Placidia, the Younger
Roman Empress Placidia, the Younger Taken by the Vandals during the sack of Rome. (b. 439/40, d. 484, Empress July - November 471)Empress Licinia Eudoxia’s second daughter didn’t fare much better than her tragic sister, Princess Eudocia. Empress Placidia the Younger,...
Princess Eudocia, the Younger
Roman Princess Eudocia, the Younger Married a Vandal Prince. Mothered a Vandal King. (b. 438, d. 466-474?)As we move into the fourth/fifth generation (things get complicated when cousins marry) of Theodosian Women, the warrior’s blood gets thin and the political...
Empress Licinia Eudoxia
Roman Empress Licinia Eudoxia Married the man who murdered her first husband. (b. 422, d. 493, Empress 437-455)Empress Licinia Eudoxia (named after her infamous grandmother Aelia Eudoxia) was two when her parents betrothed her to her five-year-old western cousin (once...
Empress Justa Grata Honoria
Roman Empress Justa Grata Honoria Attila the Hun invaded Rome for her hand. (b. 418, d. 452-455?, Empress 426-450)Empress Honoria is another of my favorite Theodosian Women. First born to Empress Placidia and Emperor Constantius III, she led a troubled life with a...
Empress Aelia Eudocia (Athenais)
Roman Empress Aelia Eudocia (Athenais) Love story or political pawn? (b. 400/1, d. 460, Empress 421-460)Empress Aelia Eudocia married Empress Pulcheria's brother Theodosius II. She was born Athenais, the only daughter of a pagan Greek philosopher named Leontius who...
Empress Aelia Pulcheria
Roman Empress Aelia Pulcheria Took over the Empire at age fifteen. (b. 399, d. 453. Empress 414 – 453)When I researched my first novel (Selene of Alexandria) about Hypatia the Lady Philosophy, I ran across Pulcheria, the fifteen year old girl who outwitted the men of...
Empress Thermantia
Roman Empress Thermantia Married an Emperor. Divorced a virgin. (b. 386/7, d. 415, Empress 408) Thermantia had one of the shortest stints as empress of all the Theodosian women. Her sister Maria’s body was barely cold when her parents Stilicho and Serena forced her...
Empress Maria
Roman Empress Maria Married an emperor. Died a virgin. (b. 384/5, d. 407, Empress 398-407)There’s not much more to tell of poor Maria’s story. She was the oldest daughter of Serena and Stilicho and had no say in her marriage to her first cousin once-removed Emperor...
Empress Galla Placidia
Roman Empress Galla Placidia Taken by the Goths during the sack of Rome. (b. 388-90 d. 450 Empress: 421-450)The sole surviving child of Theodosius and Galla, Placidia led a storied life which I chronicle in my novel Twilight Empress. Because I cover her adulthood in...
Empress Aelia Eudoxia
Roman Empress Aelia Eudoxia Jezebel of the East? (b.?, d. 404, Empress 395-404)Was she or wasn’t she? It depends on whether you’re a modern historian who admires assertive women or a fifth century bishop. Eudoxia was the attractive daughter of a Romanized Frankish...