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 396 - 457 (61 years)
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| Name |
Marcian |
| Suffix |
Emperor of the Byzantine Empire |
| Birth |
396 |
Illyricum  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Acceded |
450 |
| Emperor of the Byzantine Empire |
| Death |
Jan 457 |
| Notes |
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcian
«b»Flavius Marcianus«/b», known in English as «b»Marcian«/b», (396 \endash January 457) was the «u»emperor «/u» of the «u»Byzantine Empire «/u» from 450 until his death. Marcian's rule marked a recovery of the Eastern Empire, which the emperor protected from external menaces and reformed economically and financially. On the other side, the isolationistic policies of Marcian left the «u»Western Roman Empire «/u» without help against barbarian attacks, which materialized in the Italian campaigns of «u»Attila «/u» and in the «u»Vandal «/u» «u»sack of Rome (455) «/u».
«b»Rise to power
«/b»Marcian was born in «u»Illyricum «/u». He spent his early life as an obscure soldier. He subsequently served for nineteen years under «u»Ardaburius «/u» and «u»Aspar «/u», and took part in the wars against the «u»Persians «/u» and «u»Vandals «/u». In 431, Marcian was taken prisoner by the Vandals in the fighting near «u»Hippo Regius «/u»; brought before the Vandal King «u»Geiseric «/u» (428\endash 477), he was released on his oath never to take up arms against the Vandals.
Through the influence of these generals he became a captain of the guards, and was later raised to the rank of «u»tribune «/u» and «u»senator «/u». On the death of «u»Theodosius II «/u» (408\endash 450) he was chosen as consort by the latter's sister and successor, «u»Pulcheria «/u», and called upon to govern an empire greatly humbled and impoverished by the ravages of the «u»Huns «/u».
«b»Rule
«/b»Upon becoming emperor, Marcian repudiated the embarrassing payments of tribute to «u»Attila the Hun «/u» (434\endash 453), which the latter had been accustomed to receiving from Theodosius II in order to refrain from attacks on the eastern empire. Aware that he could never capture the eastern capital of «u»Constantinople «/u», Attila turned to the west and waged his famous campaigns in Gaul 451 and «u»Italy «/u» (452) while leaving Marcian's dominions alone.
Marcian reformed the finances, checked extravagance, and repopulated the devastated districts. He repelled attacks upon «u»Syria «/u» and «u»Egypt «/u» (452), and quelled disturbances on the «u»Armenian «/u» frontier (456). The other notable event of his reign is the «u»Council of Chalcedon «/u» (451), in which Marcian endeavoured to mediate between the rival schools of «u»theology «/u».
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| Person ID |
I61281 |
Glenn Cook Family |
| Last Modified |
10 Nov 2009 |
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| Photos |
 | Marcian
Emperor of the Byzantine Empire
Solidus of Marcian celebrating his victories |
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