Eudokia (wife of Justinian II)

Eudokia (Late Greek: Εὐδοκία) was the first empress consort of Byzantine Emperor Justinian II.[1][2][3]

Eudokia
Empress of the Byzantine Empire
Tenurec. 685–695
Born7th century
Died7th century
Constantinople
(now Istanbul, Turkey)
Burial
SpouseJustinian II
DynastyHeraclian Dynasty

Empress

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The name and place of burial of Eudokia in the Church of the Holy Apostles was recorded in De Ceremoniis by Constantine VII. However little else is known of her. She is presumed to have been married to Justinian II during his first reign (685–695) and to have either predeceased him or divorced him by the time of his second marriage to Theodora of Khazaria in 703.

At some point before the Council in Trullo in 692, Eudokia appears to have aided in the migration of the bishop John and other Orthodox Cypriots to Cyzicus in an unknown capacity.[4]

A daughter of Justinian is reported by the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor and the Chronographikon syntomon of Ecumenical Patriarch Nikephoros I of Constantinople to have been betrothed to Tervel of Bulgaria between 704 and 705. Her name is presumed to have been "Anastasia", after her paternal grandmother, Anastasia. She is the only known child attributed to Eudokia.

Possible descendants

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Modern genealogists have theorised Eudokia and Justinian II may have descendants among later Bulgarian and Byzantine royalty and nobility. The theories rely on the successful marriage of her daughter "Anastasia" to Tervel of Bulgaria; however, the Byzantine chroniclers give us only fragmentary knowledge of the Bulgarian royal lineages of her time and no clear description of the relations the Bulgarian monarchs had to each other. Thus there is little evidence to support them beyond the theoretical level.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ W. M. Ramsay (2010). The Historical Geography of Asia Minor. p. 433. "Constantino Porphyrogenitus... mentions that Eudokia, wife of Justinian II...
  2. ^ Anne Commire (1994). Historic World Leaders: Africa, Middle East, Asia, Pacific. Gale Research Incorporated.
  3. ^ Lynda Garland, Eudocia (First Wife of Justinian II )[dead link]
  4. ^ "Council in Trullo, Canon 39".
Royal titles
Preceded by Byzantine Empress consort
c. 685–695
Succeeded by