Theodosius II
Son of Arcadius and Eudoxia and grandson of Theodosius I, emperor in the East from childhood. He summoned the Council of Ephesus in 431 and issued the law code that bears his name in 438.
Theodosius was born on 10 April 401, the son of the emperor Arcadius (Socrates, Church History 6.6), and was left sole ruler of the East as a child when his father died on 1 May 408 (Socrates, Church History 6.23). He summoned the bishops to Ephesus in 431 (Socrates, Church History 7.34) (see the Council of Ephesus). In 438 the body of John Chrysostom, whom his parents had exiled, was brought back to Constantinople; Theodoret says that the emperor laid his head on the coffin and prayed for their pardon (Socrates, Church History 7.45) (Theodoret, Church History 5.36).
The collection of imperial laws compiled at his order and issued in 438 is the Theodosian Code. Sozomen dedicated his church history to him and names Theodosius I as his grandfather (Sozomen, Church History dedication).
In the timeline
- June AD 431, firm dateThe Council of Ephesus
A council led by Cyril of Alexandria deposes Nestorius of Constantinople and upholds the title Theotokos, God-bearer, for Mary. The bishops of Antioch dissent until 433. The council long divides the Church of the East, beyond the Roman frontier, from the churches that receive it.
- August AD 449, firm dateThe Second Council of Ephesus
A council under Dioscorus of Alexandria restores the monk Eutyches and deposes Flavian of Constantinople and other bishops as followers of Nestorius. The emperor confirms it; Leo of Rome rejects it as a meeting of robbers. Chalcedon overturns it two years later.