1. Pulcheria was the second child of Eastern Roman Emperor Arcadius and Empress Aelia Eudoxia.
14 Facts About Pulcheria
2.
Pulcheria influenced the Christian Church and its theological development by being involved in the Council of Ephesus and guiding the Council of Chalcedon, in which the Church ruled on christological issues.
3.
Pulcheria was born into the Theodosian dynasty, whose Eastern branch in the later Roman Empire ruled from Constantinople.
4.
Pulcheria's parents were the eastern Roman emperor Arcadius and empress Aelia Eudoxia.
5.
Pulcheria's older sister, Flaccilla, was born in 397 but probably died young.
6.
Later in life, Pulcheria returned the relics of John Chrysostom and installed them for the church, in gratitude for his pious life.
7.
Pulcheria devoted her virginity to God, and instructed her sisters to do likewise.
8.
Pulcheria provided many instructions necessary for Theodosius to be a successful emperor when he would come of age.
9.
Opinions differ as to whether Pulcheria really recommended Eudocia to her brother, a claim made by John Malalas.
10.
Pulcheria honoured her vow of virginity despite entering a legitimate marriage.
11.
Pulcheria deposed Nestorius and banished him to a monastery in Antioch.
12.
Pulcheria devoted the last years of her life to the "Theotokos", and had three churches in Constantinople dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary: the Monastery of the Panagia Hodegetria, the Church of St Mary of Blachernae, and the Chalkoprateia.
13.
Pulcheria died in 453, but the specific day is unknown.
14.
Pulcheria's death shocked the people of Constantinople, since she had formed a bond with the city's inhabitants.