Antiochus and prince Theodosius II
Added 2020-08-20 18:26:08 +0000 UTCAntiochus (praepositus sacri cubiculi) - was an influential eunuch courtier and official of the Byzantine Empire.
He was of Persian origin. He first appears in the Byzantine court in ca. 404. At the time he was a servant of the imperial bedchamber (cubicularius), and although young of age enjoyed the favour of emperor Arcadius (ruled 395–408). This allowed him to influence imperial policy, and gained him the post of tutor to the young heir to the throne, the future Theodosius II (r. 408–450).
He was, for many years, the prince's intimate companion.
By ca. 421, he had risen to the post of praepositus sacri cubiculi, head of the imperial bedchamber, and the exalted rank of patricius. At about that time, he was dismissed from his palace posts by Theodosius, who resented his patronising attitude, probably after the emperor's marriage to Aelia Eudocia. His property was confiscated, and he was forced to retire as a monk to the Church of Saint Euphemia at Chalcedon, where he later died. His palace in Constantinople, adjacent to the Hippodrome, was also confiscated by the emperor.
