HAttOIAM 644 lUBOIAM
Rossi, however, was reserved the honour of the great under Theodosius, had been Anthemius. As soon as
discoveries in the Roman catacombs. He knew bet- he became emperor he began a policy of moderation,
ter than Marchi how to make use of ancient topograph- especially in taxation, that maae his reign prosperous
ical data and all the resources of learning. Marchi was and himself popular, though he did UtUe by force of
appointed Consultor of the Congregation of the Index arms to repress the ever-encroaching Huns and other
in 1847 a,nd several years later (1864) he took part in enemies ot Rome.
the creation of the liateran Museum of which, with de He reduced the expenses of the treasury and Court, Fabris, he became director. In Julv, 1855, his labours and did away with l^e gl^f or foUiSf an oppressive tax were interrupted for the first time by a stroke of apo- on properly that was specially obnoxious to the upper plexy, to which he succunibed in 1860. The notes classes. There was a harsh system by which any mtended for the continuation of the Monumenti senator mieht be forced to accept the imwelcome were lost, but some of them were found by Father honour of the prcetura. As a praetor he was obliged to Bonayenia and made known at the Second Congress of live at Constantinople during his time of office, and Christian Archeology at Rome (1900). These recov- ^pend large sums on providing games and shows, ered documents were destined for the second volume This was specially hard on senators who lived in ibe of the "Monument!", which was to treat of the non- provinces, who had therefore to come to the capital oemeterial Christian architecture of Rome. The full and live for months there at ruinous expense. Mar- titles of his works are: "Musei Kirchemiani Inscrip- cian modified this law so as to excuse people living tiones ethnicce et christians " (Milan, 1837); " L'aes away from the city, and he ordered the consms to take g^ve del Museo Kircheriano, ovyero le monete primi- their share of the expenses. He reformed the navy Uye dei popoli dell' Italia media in collaboration on a more economical basis. There were at that time with P. Tessieni (Rome, 1839);" Monumenti delle arti frequent earthquakes, by which whole cities were cristiane primitive nella metropoli del cristianesimo: destroyed. In these cases Marcian and Pulcheria I. Archittetura della Roma sotteranea cristiana" came to the help of the sufferers generously with sup- (Romo, 1844). plies from the imperial treasury.
Ceu, Oiuaeppe Marchi, SJ". dono einqiumt* onnt in CiviUii Marcian had a conscientious idea of the responsi-
Cattoliea, 1. 1§10. 308-322; 447-446. bilities of his office. In the second novella of hiicodc
R. Maehe. he defines his view of an emperor's duty: *'It is our
business to provide for the care of the human race. "
Mardan (Marcianus, MapKiavos), Roman Emperor And he was conscious of the distress caused by the ex- at Constantinople, b. in Thrace about 390; d. January, cessi ve taxation and general maladministration of his 457. He became a soldier; during his early life he was predecessors. The nirst novella announces that com- poor, and it is said that he arrived at Constantinople plainants have fiocked to the Government from all with only two hundred pieces of gold, which he had sides, there are " endless crowds of petitioners"; this borrowed. He served in the army imder Ardaburius is because of the want of "integrity and severity" in the Alan and his son Aspar; he distinguished himself the judges. Marcian's laws are well-meant andi suo- in the wars against the Persians and Huns. Aspar was cessful attempts to cope with these difficulties. Aveiy a kind of king-maker, and general-in-chief for the East popular measure was his refijsal to pay to Attila the (magister mmtumper orientem) , also for a time the most tribute that had been paid regularly by Theodosius H. powerful man at Constantinople. But since he was a This refusal both saved a great expense and restored foreigner and an Arian he could not be emperor him- the dignity of the empire that had been degraded by self. Instead he placed a succession of his favourites so great a humiliation. As the Huns were just begin- on the throne. One of these was Marcian. At Con- ning their quarrel with the Franks, they cotdd not stantinople Marcian became a senator and was a well- afford to go to war with the empire. No doubt Mar- known and popular person. He was a widower; his cian knew this when he defied them, daughter by the first marriage, Euphemia, afterwards But the chief event of this reign was the beginning married Anthemius, Emperor in the West (467-472). of the great Monophysite quarrel and the Coundi oi He was about sixty years old when Theodosius II died Chalcedon. Marcian was conspicuously pious and (450). orthodox. As soon as he was crowned he wrote a
Theodosius II (40S-450) had succeeded his father, very friendly and respectful letter to Pope Leo I (440- Arcadius (395-408), as a youne child. During the 461), whom he calls the guardian of the Faith, asking greater part of his reign his elder sister Pulcneria for his prayers, and declaring himself anxious to sup- managed the Government. Already during the reign port the council proposed by the pope (aoO a^^OtwroOrm) of Theodosius Pulcheria was "Augusta". With her two m order to settle the question raised by Eutyches, sisters, Arcadia and Marina, she made a public vow Dioscurus, and their friends (ep. Ixxiii among St. Leo's of celibacy. When her brother died all difficulty letters; Mansi, VI, 94). On 22 November, 450, he about the succession was ended by the unanimous writes again in the same way, and speaks of the pleasure choice of her (who had long really guided the State) with which he had welcomed the pope's legates. He as empress. Thus began the reign of Pulcheria. hopes that Leo will be able to come to the council him- Wishinjg to strengthen her position (it was the first self; if not he, Marcian, will sunmion it to some con~ case of a woman succeeding to the Roman throne) she venient place; it shall define the Faith according at once made a nominal marriage with Marcian. He to Leo's letter to Flavian of Constantinople (ibid., seems to have be^n the best person she could have Ixxxvi; Mansi, VI, 99). Pulcheria also wrote; she too chosen;thefriendshipof Aspar as well as his own repu- says that that the coimcil shall be sununoned by tation had long pointed him out for som^ high place, the pope's authority. Leo had already asked Theo- It is said that Theodosius on his death-bed haa told dosius II to summon the council (ep. xliv, 3; P. L., him: "It has been revealed to me that you will sue- LIV, 826); Marcian clearly only meant to cany* out ceed me. " Marcian was crowned by the patriarch, this commission as Theodosius's successor. Mean- 25 August, 450. It is the first instance of the religious while Dioscurus and his party knew Quite well that ceremony of coronation, imitated later in the West, Marcian would not be their friend. They had tried and was to have far-reaching consequences. The and failed to prevent his recognition in Egypt; the &st act of the new reim was the trial and execution of attempt only made their case worse with the Govem- Chrysaphiua» a eunuch and court favourite long im- ment.
popular, who had brought Theodosius to a humiliating The Eastern Church had been disturbed by the
apoloey and the payment of a large fine by an unsuc- teaching of Eutyches since inmiediately after the
cessful conspiracy to murder Attila. Marcian be- Council of Ephesus (431) and the Nestorian troubles.
longed to the party of reform, of which the founder. In 448 Eusebius of Dorylceum had accused Eutyches
