WOMEN OF THE CONSTANTINIAN DYNASTY IN THE WORKS OF JULIAN, AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS AND PHILOSTORGIUS: Constantina and Eusebia

Abstract

The late antique authors Julian, Ammianus Marcellinus, and Philostorgius, in their respective works Panegyric in Honor of the Empress Eusebia and Letter to the Athenians, Res Gestae, and Ecclesiastical History, offer intriguing and distinct perspectives on the imperial women Constantina and Eusebia, members of the Constantinian dynasty. Constantina (320-354), the eldest daughter of Emperor Constantine I, played an active role in political and cultural affairs during the reign of her brother, Constantius II. Similarly, Eusebia (?-360), Constantius II's second wife, influenced imperial matters to such an extent that her actions were recorded in contemporary textual sources. This article seeks to analyze how the actions and influence of these two imperial women are represented in the selected texts, shedding light on their roles within the context of the Constantinian dynasty.