Cambridge Ancient Hi.. - Index of

42 2. the eastern empire: theodosius to anastasius
number of times over the past century when confronted by particularly
intransigent barbarian leaders. 55 On this occasion, the plan became known
to Attila and failed, and the empire was fortunate to escape the consequences
of his wrath relatively lightly, probably owing to the fact that his
attention was now turning westwards. 56
There can be no doubt that the Huns, and Attila in particular, caused the
eastern empire considerable damage and discomfort during Theodosius’
reign, whether in terms of the loss of productivity and revenue caused by
Hunnic devastation of the Balkans, 57 the financial drain of annual treaty
payments, or the way in which the timing of Hunnic demands and invasions
limited Constantinople’s freedom of action elsewhere. But while the
situation was often grim, particularly for the inhabitants of the Balkans and
particularly in 447, the period as a whole was not one of unremitting disaster
in which the eastern empire was utterly helpless in the face of the
Hunnic threat. Eastern armies undoubtedly suffered decisive defeats in
447, but they had also been able to force a Hunnic withdrawal a few years
earlier. 58 The very fact that the Huns did so often time their diplomatic and
military offensives to take advantage of temporary Roman handicaps or the
absence of troops implies a healthy respect for Roman arms on the part of
the Huns and helps to keep Hunnic successes in perspective. Attila’s death
in 453 was to reveal just how fragile the foundations of his empire were,
though Theodosius’ own demise in 450 meant that it was his successor who
savoured the relief occasioned by that fortuitous turn of events – and who
had also to cope with the first phase of its momentous consequences.
ii. the successors of theodosius
1. Marcian
Theodosius died on 28 July 450 from injuries sustained in a fall from his horse
while hunting. His marriage to Eudocia had produced no male offspring, 59
and perhaps excusably, given the sudden and unexpected nature of his death,
he had not made public any choice of successor. Nearly a month later, on 25
August, a new emperor was at last proclaimed in the person of an unknown
fifty-eight-year-old former army officer of Balkan origin named Marcian.
The long delay between Theodosius’ death and Marcian’s accession belies
the reports, no doubt initiated by Marcian’s supporters, that the new emperor
was Theodosius’ deathbed choice. But if Theodosius did not promote
Marcian, then someone else must have. The western emperor Valentinian III
was the one individual with an obvious claim to arbitrate in this matter, but
55 Lee (forthcoming). 56 Blockley (1992) 66–7.
57 On which see ch. 23 (Whitby), pp. 709,12 below. 58 Zuckerman (1994) 167–8.
59 On the spurious ‘Arcadius 1’of PLRE ii, see Holum, Empresses 178 n. 14.
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