Marcian

Marcian, born in the year three hundred ninety-two, rose to prominence as the Roman emperor of the East from four hundred fifty to four hundred fifty-seven. His early life remains largely a mystery, but he served as a domesticus, or personal assistant, under the influential military commanders Ardabur and his son Aspar for a remarkable fifteen years. Following the death of Emperor Theodosius II on July twenty-eight, four hundred fifty, Aspar nominated Marcian as a candidate for the throne, leveraging his considerable military influence.

After a month of negotiations, Pulcheria, the sister of Theodosius, consented to marry Marcian, which solidified his claim to the throne. He was officially elected and inaugurated on August twenty-five, four hundred fifty. Upon ascending to power, Marcian swiftly reversed many of Theodosius II's policies, particularly regarding the Eastern Roman Empire's dealings with the Huns, led by Attila, and in matters of religious doctrine.

One of Marcian's first acts as emperor was to revoke all treaties with Attila, ceasing the tribute payments that had been a burden on the empire. In four hundred fifty-two, while Attila was conducting raids in Roman Italy, Marcian launched military expeditions across the Danube, achieving significant victories against the Huns in their own territory. This strategic maneuver, coupled with a famine and plague in northern Italy, enabled the Western Roman Empire to negotiate Attila's retreat from the Italian peninsula.

Following Attila's death in four hundred fifty-three, Marcian capitalized on the disarray within the Hunnic confederation by settling Germanic tribes as foederati, who provided military service in exchange for benefits. He also convened the Council of Chalcedon, which established the dual nature of Christ, a decision that alienated many in the eastern provinces, particularly in Syria and Egypt, where miaphysitism was prevalent. Marcian passed away on January twenty-seven, four hundred fifty-seven, leaving behind a treasury surplus of seven million solidi coins, a remarkable feat given the economic challenges faced by the Eastern Roman Empire during his reign.