Fabia Eudokia (sometimes written Eudocia, c. 580 -
13 August, 612) was a Byzantine Empress from 610 to 612. She was
the first empress consort of
Heraclius.
Family
She was a daughter of Rogas. The name of her father was recorded in
the chronicle of
Theophanes the
Confessor. Rogas was a landowner in the
Exarchate of Africa.
Empress
Her birth name was Fabia. She was bethrothed to
Heraclius when the future emperor still resided in
the Exarchate. The Exarch at the time was her father-in-law
Heraclius the Elder.
Heraclius had started a revolt against
Phocas
in 608. Under unknown circumstances both Fabia and her
mother-in-law
Epiphania seem to have been
captured by Phocas by 610.
They spent their captivity in the monastery
"Nea Metanoia" (New Repentance) and were used as hostages to
prevent Heraclius from besieging Constantinople
.
The two women were eventually released by members of the Green
faction of Byzantine
chariot racing
events. They were delivered to Heraclius to the island of
Calonymus (now Calomio), leaving him free to
launch his successful assault. The
Excubitors defected to his side and thus allowed
him to enter the city without serious resistance.
On 5 October, 610, Heraclius was proclaimed Emperor. On the same
day they were married. She took the name Eudokia at this point. She
was granted the title of Augusta.
They had two children:
- Eudoxia Epiphania, a daughter.
Born on 7 July, 611. She was proclaimed Augusta on 4 October,
612.
- Heraclius Constantine, a son, who went on to be Emperor
Constantine III.
Born on 3 May, 612. Crowned co-emperor on 22 January, 613.
Death
Eudokia died on 13 August, 612. According to the
Chronographikon syntomon of
Ecumenical
Patriarch Nikephoros I of Constantinople, the cause of death
was
epilepsy. According to Nikephoros, her
funeral was accompanied with an incident revealing how popular she
was with the general populace. A
maidservant spat out of
an upstairs window while the funeral procession was just below it.
The coffin was still open and the
saliva
reached the robes of the corpse. The crowds took offense and the
girl was promptly seized. Finishing her life in an
execution by burning.
Eudokia
was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles
. Heraclius went on to marry his niece
Martina.
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