Theodosius II

Theodosius II was emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire from 408 until his death in 450. He became emperor as a child and ruled for more than forty years. His reign was centered in Constantinople, the eastern capital. During this time, the eastern empire remained more stable than the western empire. Theodosius II is remembered for strong defenses, careful government, and major legal work.

Theodosius II was born in 401. He was the son of Emperor Arcadius. When Arcadius died in 408, Theodosius became emperor at about seven years old. Because he was young, the empire was governed by advisors. One important figure was his sister, Pulcheria, who acted as guardian and later held great influence at court. Officials and generals handled daily rule while the young emperor learned his duties.

One of the most famous achievements of Theodosius II was the building of the Theodosian Walls. These were massive stone walls that protected Constantinople on the land side. They included multiple layers, towers, and gates. The walls were built in the early 400s and helped defend the city from attacks for many centuries. Because of these defenses, Constantinople avoided many invasions that damaged other cities.

Theodosius II also focused on law and administration. In 438, he ordered the publication of the Theodosian Code. A code is an organized collection of laws. This code gathered Roman laws issued since the time of Constantine I. It applied across the eastern empire and influenced later legal systems. The laws covered many areas, including government offices, taxes, and religion.

Religion played an important role during his reign. Theodosius II supported Christianity and continued policies that favored the Christian Church. Several church councils met during this time to settle disagreements about Christian belief. One major meeting was the Council of Ephesus in 431. These councils involved bishops, who were senior church leaders. Decisions from these meetings shaped church organization in the empire.

The eastern empire faced threats during Theodosius II’s reign, including pressure from the Huns, a powerful group led by Attila the Hun. Instead of constant war, the government often used diplomacy. Diplomacy means solving problems through discussion and agreements. The empire sometimes paid tribute, which is money given to avoid attack. Theodosius II died in 450 after a riding accident. He was succeeded by Marcian. By the end of his reign, the eastern empire remained strong and well defended.