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Turkey / Byzantium: Miniature depicting Emperor Theodosius II (401-450), Eastern Roman emperor, welcoming the body of St. John Chrysostom as it is brought to the Church of the Holy Apostles, early 10th century, Constantinople

Turkey / Byzantium: Miniature depicting Emperor Theodosius II (401-450), Eastern Roman emperor, welcoming the body of St. John Chrysostom as it is brought to the Church of the Holy Apostles, early 10th century, Constantinople

Theodosius II (401-450), also known as Theodosius the Younger and Theodosius the Calligrapher, was the son of Emperor Arcadius of the Eastern Roman Empire. He was proclaimed co-ruler and Augustus a year after his birth, becoming the youngest person to ever bear the title. He became emperor after his father's death in 408 CE, aged only seven.

His older sister Pulcheria briefly assumed regency as Augusta until Theodosius was old enough in 416 CE. Theodosius was a devout Christian, waging wars against the Sassanids and others who persecuted Christianity. He also had to deal with the Huns under Attila, forced to constantly pay them off to maintain peace.

Theodosius was also known for promulgating the Theodosian law code and for his founding of the University of Constantinople. Theodosius eventually died in 450 CE from a riding accident, leading to a power struggle between his sister Pulcheria and the eunuch Chrysaphius.

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