Page "Pulcheria" Paragraph 4

At the same time Pulcheria proclaimed herself as guardian over her brother she also took a vow of virginity, and her sisters did as well.

Pulcheria ’ s reason for a vow of virginity may have been her deeply religious virtue as recorded by Sozomen: “ She devoted her virginity to God, and instructed her sisters to do likewise.

To avoid cause of scandal and opportunities for intrigue, she permitted no man to enter her palace.

In confirmation of her resolution she took God, the priests, and all the subjects of the Roman empire as witnesses ...” Another contemporary of Pulcheria had also described her deep piety.

In a letter from Pope Leo I to Pulcheria, he compliments her on her deeply religious ways: " In it you clearly show how much you love the Catholic faith and how much you despise the errors of heretics.

" Along with being deeply pious, it is possible that Pulcheria may have had other motives to take a vow of virginity.

According to ancient historians Sozomen, Socrates, and Theodoret, Pulcheria had a deep dislike for Anthemius, the former guardian of Theodosius ; the reasons may have been his distaste for her immense power within the empire and her unwillingness to allow Anthemius to gain power amongst the imperial court.

A more recent historian, Kenneth Holum, states that Anthemius had tried to make family ties between himself and the imperial family: “ Married long since and many years Pulcheria ’ s senior, Anthemis naturally proposed a descendent or close relative, a grandson perhaps ... born a few years earlier than Pulcheria and an excellent prospect for her hand ” Pulcheria had found herself in a position where she would have to give her power up to her potential husband, for once a woman in the imperial court married her power was to be relinquished to her husband.

In order for Pulcheria to keep her power within the imperial court she took a vow of virginity to ensure that another man could not share her power.