The Fate of Eudoxia

455 – in mid-March, Western Roman Emperor Valentinian III (425 – 455) left for archery practice. Unfortunately, when he arrived near the Campus Martius, he was ambushed and stabbed to death by some enemy soldiers who emerged from behind the bushes.

455 – Valentinian III was succeeded by the elderly Senator Petronius Maximus, who immediately announced his unwanted betrothal to the Empress Eudoxia. To escape this nightmare, Eudoxia sought assistance from Vandal King Gaiseric who, in response, immediately put to sea.

455 – on May 31, when Petronius Maximus tried to flee, he was killed, and his dismembered body thrown into the Tiber River, by palace guard members.

455 – in June, when King Gaiseric arrived at the gates of Rome, he was met by Pope Leo III, whose pleas did little to dissuade his march on Rome. But Gaiseric, a Christian, respected papal dignity, and promised not to torture or kill the citizens, nor destroy the buildings.

455 – in June, Gaiseric entered the city of Rome, where for fourteen days his army stripped the city and the churches of their gold and silver, the palaces of their statues, and the Temple of Jupiter of its gilded copper roof. But Gaiseric kept his promise to Pope Leo III, and did not torture or kill the citizens, nor destroy the buildings.

455 – in June, after loading all the seized loot onto his ships, Gaiseric seized Eudoxia and her two daughters, and sailed back to Carthage with them and all the seized loot…….read more in Volume Six……