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Domnica

December 15, 2023

Domnica[a] (fl. 378) was the wife of Roman emperor Valens. Valens, who ruled from 364 to 378, was emperor of the East and co-emperor with his brother Valentinian I.[4] After the death of her husband in 378 she ruled as de facto regent and defended Constantinople against the attacking Goths until his successor, Theodosius I arrived.[5]

Domnica
Augusta
Roman empress
Tenure364–378
SpouseValens
IssueValentinianus Galates,
Carosa
Anastasia
FatherPetronius

Family edit

Domnica was the daughter of a soldier named Petronius, who was promoted to praetorian prefect by Valens after he became emperor. Petronius was deeply unpopular for his cruelty and greed, which was one reason why Procopius decided to revolt in 365.[6][7]

Petronius was probably a Pannonian. Her further ancestry is unknown. Various of her relatives held influentials positions. A possible relative is Domnicus, an officer of Valens mentioned in Oration II by Libanius. Procopius, prefect of Constantinople in 377, is mentioned by Zosimus as a relative of Valens by marriage. Suggesting he was also related to Domnica.[8] According to Nicetas of Serra, Eusebius was her uncle and a praefectus urbi in the Diocese of Pontus. Nicetas was a commentator to the works of Gregory of Nazianzus and identified Eusebius with an otherwise unnamed figure mentioned in the works of Gregory. Eusebius is thus supposedly recorded in the funeral oration in honor of Basil of Caesarea.[2][9]

The names Anastasia, Domnicus, Eusebius, Petronius and Procopius used by various family members are thought to be Greek in origin. Various scholars have suggested this could indicate the descent of Domnica and her relatives from Greek-speaking families of Sirmium, the initial capital of the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum. Marriage into a Greek family could have helped solidify Valens' rule over the Hellenized Eastern Roman Empire.[10]

Marriage edit

She married Valens prior to his accession and bore two daughters, Anastasia and Carosa, as well as a son and heir, Valentinianus Galates (366–370). According to Socrates of Constantinople and Sozomen both daughters were educated by Marcian, a former palatinus (paladin). Marcian had become a Novatianist presbyter. His continued service at court supposedly ensured that Valens held a more tolerant stance regarding Novatianists.[11]

Religious scandals and the death of Galates edit

The history of the Christian Church in the early 4th century was marked by the Trinitarian controversy. The First Council of Nicaea in 325 had established the Nicene Creed, which declared that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were all equal to each other and of the same substance. The theologian Arius, founder of Arianism, disagreed with this and believed that the three parts of the Trinity were materially separate from each other and that the Father created the Son. Domnica was already an Arian and is rumored to have persuaded her husband Valens to convert to the Arian sect.[12] In about 367, according to Theodoret, Domnica convinced Valens to seek baptism from Eudoxius of Antioch, Archbishop of Constantinople. Eudoxius was one of the most influential Arians.[11]

Valens was one of the few emperors of the century to favor the Arians. The empress is accused, with no proof, of having urged her husband to persecute the Trinitarian sect, including persecuting many prominent bishops. Persecution was common throughout his reign.[12]

A group of pagan philosophers engaged in divination and predicted that a certain philosopher named Theodore would be the next emperor. When Valens discovered this prophecy he considered the philosophers guilty of a plot against his safety. Valens became enraged and killed the philosophers and, such was his fury, also killed other entirely innocent philosophers and even those dressed like philosophers.[13][14]

The young Valentinianus's early death was a great blow to his parents, surrounded by religious scandal and quarrels. According to Socrates, Domnica told her husband that she had been having visions that their son's illness was a punishment for ill treatment of the bishop Basil of Caesarea. Basil was a prominent orthodox leader who opposed the emperor's semi-Arian beliefs. When asked to pray for the child, known as Galates, Basil is said to have responded by giving Valens’ commitment to orthodoxy as the condition for the boy's survival. Valens refused to comply and baptize Galates Catholic. He instead gave his son an Arian baptism. Basil replied by saying that God's will would be done, and Galates died soon after.[15][5]

Defeat at Adrianople and the death of Valens edit

Valens perished in battle against the Goths at the Battle of Adrianople on August 9, 378. The exact circumstances of his death are unknown. The Goths then continued to move east and attacked Constantinople. Because there was no emperor to lead the forces, the empress Dominica was forced to organize a counterattack. According to Socrates and Sozomen, Dominica paid soldiers’ wages out of the imperial treasury to any civilian volunteers who were willing to arm themselves against the invaders.[16][11]

After the death of her husband she ruled as de facto regent and defended Constantinople against the attacking Goths until his successor, Theodosius I arrived. The date and circumstances of her death remain unknown.[5]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Kienast 2017, p. 317 gives her name as "Albia (?) Domnica", but does not elaborate on the origin of this name. Contemporary sources just refer to her as "Domnica".[1][2][3]

References edit

  1. ^ Pauly–Wissowa, "Domnica"
  2. ^ a b Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. 1, p. 265 ("Domnica")
  3. ^ Lenski 2002, p. 60.
  4. ^ Smith, William, ed. (1862). "Valens". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London: Spottiswoodes and Shaw. pp. 1202–1205.
  5. ^ a b c Banchich, Thomas (3 November 1997). "Domnica Augusta, Wife of the Emperor Valens". Canisius College. from the original on 17 June 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
  6. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae XXVI.6.7
  7. ^ Grant, Michael (1985). The Roman Emperors. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. pp. 263–265.
  8. ^ Lenski 2002, p. 62–63.
  9. ^ Gregory of Nazianzus, Oration 43:"Funeral Oration on the Great S. Basil, Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia", chapters 55–57. Public domain translation posted by J. Vanderspoel, Department of Greek, Latin and Ancient History, University of Calgary
  10. ^ Lenski 2002, p. 63.
  11. ^ a b c Thomas M. Banchich, "Domnica Augusta, Wife of the Emperor Valens"
  12. ^ a b Schaff, Philip. Theodoret, Jerome, Gennadius, and Rufinus: Historical Writings. Vol. 3. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1892. Christian Classics Ethereal Library. 17 May 2007 <http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf203.i.html>.
  13. ^ Lewis, Naphtali, and Meyer Reinhold, eds. Roman Civilization: Volume II: the Empire. New York: Columbia UP, 1990. 594–597, 614–615.
  14. ^ "Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume II/Sozomen/Book VI".
  15. ^ Socrates; Walford, Edward; de Valois, Henri (1853). The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates. London: Bohn. pp. 211–261. ISBN 9780524006528.
  16. ^ Lenski 1997, pp. 129–168.

Sources edit

  • Kienast, Dietmar (2017) [1990]. Römische Kaisertabelle: Grundzüge einer römischen Kaiserchronologie (in German) (6th ed.). Darmstadt: WBG. ISBN 978-3-534-26724-8.
  • Socrates; Walford, Edward; de Valois, Henri (1853). The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates. London: Bohn. pp. 211–261. ISBN 9780524006528.
  • Banchich, Thomas (3 November 1997). "Domnica Augusta, Wife of the Emperor Valens". Canisius College. from the original on 17 June 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
  • Lenski, Noel (2002). Failure of Empire: Valens and the Roman State in the Fourth Century A.D. Univ of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-28389-3.
  • Lenski, Noel (1997). "Initium mali Romano imperio: Contemporary Reactions to the Battle of Adrianople". Transactions of the American Philological Association. 127: 129–168. doi:10.2307/284390. JSTOR 284390.
  • Smith, William, ed. (1862). "Valens". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London: Spottiswoodes and Shaw. pp. 1202–1205.
  • Grant, Michael (1985). The Roman Emperors. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. pp. 263–265.
  • Lewis, Naphtali, and Meyer Reinhold, eds. Roman Civilization: Volume II: the Empire. New York: Columbia UP, 1990. 594–597, 614–615.
  • Schaff, Philip. Theodoret, Jerome, Gennadius, and Rufinus: Historical Writings. Vol. 3. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1892. Christian Classics Ethereal Library. 17 May 2007 <http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf203.i.html>.

External links edit

  • Page of "Failure of Empire" reporting on her ancestry and family
  • Entry of her uncle Eusebius in the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire
Royal titles
Preceded by Roman Empress consort
364–378
with Marina Severa (364–c. 370)
Justina (370–375)
Constantia (374–378) 		Succeeded by
Succeeded by

December 15, 2023
domnica, wife, roman, emperor, valens, valens, ruled, from, emperor, east, emperor, with, brother, valentinian, after, death, husband, ruled, facto, regent, defended, constantinople, against, attacking, goths, until, successor, theodosius, arrived, augustaroma. Domnica a fl 378 was the wife of Roman emperor Valens Valens who ruled from 364 to 378 was emperor of the East and co emperor with his brother Valentinian I 4 After the death of her husband in 378 she ruled as de facto regent and defended Constantinople against the attacking Goths until his successor Theodosius I arrived 5 DomnicaAugustaRoman empressTenure364 378SpouseValensIssueValentinianus Galates CarosaAnastasiaFatherPetronius Contents 1 Family 2 Marriage 3 Religious scandals and the death of Galates 4 Defeat at Adrianople and the death of Valens 5 Notes 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksFamily editDomnica was the daughter of a soldier named Petronius who was promoted to praetorian prefect by Valens after he became emperor Petronius was deeply unpopular for his cruelty and greed which was one reason why Procopius decided to revolt in 365 6 7 Petronius was probably a Pannonian Her further ancestry is unknown Various of her relatives held influentials positions A possible relative is Domnicus an officer of Valens mentioned in Oration II by Libanius Procopius prefect of Constantinople in 377 is mentioned by Zosimus as a relative of Valens by marriage Suggesting he was also related to Domnica 8 According to Nicetas of Serra Eusebius was her uncle and a praefectus urbi in the Diocese of Pontus Nicetas was a commentator to the works of Gregory of Nazianzus and identified Eusebius with an otherwise unnamed figure mentioned in the works of Gregory Eusebius is thus supposedly recorded in the funeral oration in honor of Basil of Caesarea 2 9 The names Anastasia Domnicus Eusebius Petronius and Procopius used by various family members are thought to be Greek in origin Various scholars have suggested this could indicate the descent of Domnica and her relatives from Greek speaking families of Sirmium the initial capital of the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum Marriage into a Greek family could have helped solidify Valens rule over the Hellenized Eastern Roman Empire 10 Marriage editShe married Valens prior to his accession and bore two daughters Anastasia and Carosa as well as a son and heir Valentinianus Galates 366 370 According to Socrates of Constantinople and Sozomen both daughters were educated by Marcian a former palatinus paladin Marcian had become a Novatianist presbyter His continued service at court supposedly ensured that Valens held a more tolerant stance regarding Novatianists 11 Religious scandals and the death of Galates editThe history of the Christian Church in the early 4th century was marked by the Trinitarian controversy The First Council of Nicaea in 325 had established the Nicene Creed which declared that the Father Son and Holy Spirit were all equal to each other and of the same substance The theologian Arius founder of Arianism disagreed with this and believed that the three parts of the Trinity were materially separate from each other and that the Father created the Son Domnica was already an Arian and is rumored to have persuaded her husband Valens to convert to the Arian sect 12 In about 367 according to Theodoret Domnica convinced Valens to seek baptism from Eudoxius of Antioch Archbishop of Constantinople Eudoxius was one of the most influential Arians 11 Valens was one of the few emperors of the century to favor the Arians The empress is accused with no proof of having urged her husband to persecute the Trinitarian sect including persecuting many prominent bishops Persecution was common throughout his reign 12 A group of pagan philosophers engaged in divination and predicted that a certain philosopher named Theodore would be the next emperor When Valens discovered this prophecy he considered the philosophers guilty of a plot against his safety Valens became enraged and killed the philosophers and such was his fury also killed other entirely innocent philosophers and even those dressed like philosophers 13 14 The young Valentinianus s early death was a great blow to his parents surrounded by religious scandal and quarrels According to Socrates Domnica told her husband that she had been having visions that their son s illness was a punishment for ill treatment of the bishop Basil of Caesarea Basil was a prominent orthodox leader who opposed the emperor s semi Arian beliefs When asked to pray for the child known as Galates Basil is said to have responded by giving Valens commitment to orthodoxy as the condition for the boy s survival Valens refused to comply and baptize Galates Catholic He instead gave his son an Arian baptism Basil replied by saying that God s will would be done and Galates died soon after 15 5 Defeat at Adrianople and the death of Valens editValens perished in battle against the Goths at the Battle of Adrianople on August 9 378 The exact circumstances of his death are unknown The Goths then continued to move east and attacked Constantinople Because there was no emperor to lead the forces the empress Dominica was forced to organize a counterattack According to Socrates and Sozomen Dominica paid soldiers wages out of the imperial treasury to any civilian volunteers who were willing to arm themselves against the invaders 16 11 After the death of her husband she ruled as de facto regent and defended Constantinople against the attacking Goths until his successor Theodosius I arrived The date and circumstances of her death remain unknown 5 Notes edit Kienast 2017 p 317 gives her name as Albia Domnica but does not elaborate on the origin of this name Contemporary sources just refer to her as Domnica 1 2 3 References edit Pauly Wissowa Domnica a b Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire vol 1 p 265 Domnica Lenski 2002 p 60 Smith William ed 1862 Valens Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology London Spottiswoodes and Shaw pp 1202 1205 a b c Banchich Thomas 3 November 1997 Domnica Augusta Wife of the Emperor Valens Canisius College Archived from the original on 17 June 2007 Retrieved 10 May 2007 Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae XXVI 6 7 Grant Michael 1985 The Roman Emperors London Weidenfeld and Nicolson pp 263 265 Lenski 2002 p 62 63 Gregory of Nazianzus Oration 43 Funeral Oration on the Great S Basil Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia chapters 55 57 Public domain translation posted by J Vanderspoel Department of Greek Latin and Ancient History University of Calgary Lenski 2002 p 63 a b c Thomas M Banchich Domnica Augusta Wife of the Emperor Valens a b Schaff Philip Theodoret Jerome Gennadius and Rufinus Historical Writings Vol 3 Edinburgh T amp T Clark 1892 Christian Classics Ethereal Library 17 May 2007 lt http www ccel org ccel schaff npnf203 i html gt Lewis Naphtali and Meyer Reinhold eds Roman Civilization Volume II the Empire New York Columbia UP 1990 594 597 614 615 Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers Series II Volume II Sozomen Book VI Socrates Walford Edward de Valois Henri 1853 The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates London Bohn pp 211 261 ISBN 9780524006528 Lenski 1997 pp 129 168 Sources editKienast Dietmar 2017 1990 Romische Kaisertabelle Grundzuge einer romischen Kaiserchronologie in German 6th ed Darmstadt WBG ISBN 978 3 534 26724 8 Socrates Walford Edward de Valois Henri 1853 The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates London Bohn pp 211 261 ISBN 9780524006528 Banchich Thomas 3 November 1997 Domnica Augusta Wife of the Emperor Valens Canisius College Archived from the original on 17 June 2007 Retrieved 10 May 2007 Lenski Noel 2002 Failure of Empire Valens and the Roman State in the Fourth Century A D Univ of California Press ISBN 978 0 520 28389 3 Lenski Noel 1997 Initium mali Romano imperio Contemporary Reactions to the Battle of Adrianople Transactions of the American Philological Association 127 129 168 doi 10 2307 284390 JSTOR 284390 Smith William ed 1862 Valens Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology London Spottiswoodes and Shaw pp 1202 1205 Grant Michael 1985 The Roman Emperors London Weidenfeld and Nicolson pp 263 265 Lewis Naphtali and Meyer Reinhold eds Roman Civilization Volume II the Empire New York Columbia UP 1990 594 597 614 615 Schaff Philip Theodoret Jerome Gennadius and Rufinus Historical Writings Vol 3 Edinburgh T amp T Clark 1892 Christian Classics Ethereal Library 17 May 2007 lt http www ccel org ccel schaff npnf203 i html gt External links editPage of Failure of Empire reporting on her ancestry and family Entry of her uncle Eusebius in the Prosopography of the Later Roman EmpireRoyal titlesPreceded byMarina Severa Roman Empress consort364 378with Marina Severa 364 c 370 Justina 370 375 Constantia 374 378 Succeeded byConstantiaIn the Western Roman EmpireSucceeded byAelia FlaccillaIn the Eastern Roman Empire Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Domnica amp oldid 1186652058, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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