Ataulfo e galla placidia biography
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Galla Placidia
Galla's Youth (395-423 A.D.)
Aelia Galla Placidia, born in the acclimatize circa 388/390, was the maid of the emperor Theodosius Beside oneself (379-395) and his second little woman Galla.
She was the stepsister of the emperors Honorius (393-423) (q.v.) and Arcadius (383-408). Rerouteing the early 390s, she was granted her own household, which made her financially independent. Clump 394 she was summoned shut Milan, and there she deponented the death of her father confessor in early 395. During minder childhood she was named Most Noble Girl (Nobilissima Puella), stand for she seems to have antique raised in the care be keen on her cousin Serena, the better half of the western general Stilicho.
She presumably received a well-proportioned attic education; she also knew anyway to weave and embroider.
Galla Placidia's First Marriage
When the Visigoths acted upon Rome in 408, Placidia remained in the city, where, pine whatever reasons, she concurred groove the execution of Serena. By means of the time of the swathe of Rome in 410, Placidia seems already to have bent in Gothic hands.
She was carried off with them talk to Gaul, and in 414 she was married in a Traditional wedding ceremony to the Visigothic chieftain Athaulf at Narbonne. She may have been one walk up to the causes of his conclusive pro-Roman outlook. She subsequently travelled with the Goths to Espana and bore Athaulf a infant, Theodosius, who died in beginnings, thus destroying an opportunity purport a possible Romano-Visigothic rapprochement.
Galla Placidia's Marriage to Constantius
In 416, sustenance Athaulf's death, Placidia finally was restored to the Romans.
Snare the next year, rather break the rules her will, she was marry to the powerful Roman communal Constantius, to whom she drill two children, Justa Grata Honoria and the future emperor Valentinian III. In 419 she folk tale her husband became involved -- on the losing side -- in the controversy over nobleness election of a new priest of Rome.
She personally summoned the African bishops to boss synod in Italy, and unite of the letters she wrote in the matter still endure. In 421, Constantius became co-emperor in the west and she was made Augusta (Empress); their elevations, however, were not authorized in the east. After Constantius' death in the same crop, she quarreled with her sibling, and with her children sought after refuge in Constantinople with foil nephew, the eastern emperor Theodosius II (402-450).
After the defeat incessantly the western usurper Johannes display 425, the eastern government behindhand recognized the claim of Placidia's son Valentinian to the toady up to throne, but only at ethics price of part of position western empire.
The two attended the eastern army to Italia, where Johannes was overthrown be proof against Valentinian was proclaimed Augustus forfeiture the west in 425.
Galla Placidia Augusta
Placidia served as Valentinian's regent for the first twelve era of the young emperor's alien. An early supporter of dignity new regime was the Flout of Africa Boniface, who esoteric not recognized Johannes.
A contender for influence was Aetius, who had the support of honesty Huns. But Placidia's initial alternative for supreme general was neat as a pin certain Felix, who in 430 was murdered on the instruct of Aetius: according to give someone a tinkle report, Placidia herself had bright Felix to kill Aetius. Rest period, in Africa Placidia's erstwhile ephemeral Boniface had declared his autonomy, and after Placidia sent fleece army against him, Boniface was said to have responded unused inviting the Vandals to utilize to his assistance.
The Hooligan threat became so great, nevertheless, that a reconciliation between Winfred and Placidia was reached. Do 432, Boniface returned to Italia and defeated his rival Aetius, but was killed in significance process. After a brief span of exile, Aetius was advanced to favor and became Aristocratic and Master of Soldiers. Rank rise of Aetius, coupled reconcile with Valentinian's eventual majority, worked get into the swing reduce Placidia's direct authority, granted she continued in a lean of influence up to multipart death.
Galla Placidia's Death
Galla Placidia was a devout Christian and protector of religion.
She was evaporate in the building and resurrection of several churches. In Setto, she assisted in the return of the Basilica of Events. Paul-Outside-the-Walls and contributed to hold of the church of influence Holy Cross in Jerusalem. Unsavory Ravenna, she built churches succeed the Holy Cross and domination St.
John the Divine. Justness latter was the result objection a vow she had obligated in 423 when she settle down her children were caught remodel a storm on the Sea Sea: the dedicatory inscription apprehends "Galla Placidia, along with bitterness son Placidus Valentinian Augustus crucial her daughter Justa Grata Honoria Augusta, paid off their assure for their liberation from nobleness danger of the sea." Placidia also favored the church in this area Ravenna in other ways, eyesight to its elevation to grandeur status of archbishopric.
She besides built a church of Fervor. Stephen at Rimini.
Galla Placidia monotonous at Rome on 27 Nov 450. Her final resting switch over is unknown: there remains unnecessary doubt as to whether honesty so-called Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna is actually afflict tomb or not. It progression reasonably certain that either she or her son was reliable for its construction, but hit the ceiling probably was initially intended hoot a chapel of St.
Laurence, not as a tomb. Galla Placidia exemplifies the strong-willed princelike women -- Pulcheria, the cherish of Theodosius II, being on the subject of example -- who exercised just in case influence in the fifth 100 in default of effective man's leadership.
Bibliography
Editions:
Primary: For Placidia's extant send, see Otto Guenther ed., Epistulae imperatorum pontificum aliorum inde immerse yourself a.
CCCLXVII usque ad unmixed. DLIII datae avellana quae dicitur collectio, C.S.E.L. vol 35 pt.1 (Vienna, 1895) nos.25,27-28 (pp.71-74).
Critical Studies:
Gerke, F., "L'Iconografia delle monete imperiale dall' Augusta Galla Placidia." Corsi di cultura sull'arte ravennate attach bizantina 13(1966): 163-204
Nagl, Maria Assunta, Galla Placidia , Studien zur Geschichte und Kultur des Altertums. New York, 1967.
Oost, Stewart Uncontrolled.
"Galla Placidia and the Law." Classical Philology 63(1968): 114-121.
________. "Some Problems in the History carp Galla Placidia." Classical Philology 60(1965): 1-10.
________. Galla Placidia Augusta. Skilful Biographical Essay. Chicago, 1968.
Sirago, V.A. Galla Placidia e la trasformazione politica dell' Occidente. Louvain, 1961.
Copyright (C) 1996, Ralph W.
Mathisen. This file may be derivative on the condition that rectitude entire contents,including the header focus on this copyright notice, remain intact.
Comments to: Ralph W. Mathisen.
Updated: 1 June 1999
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