Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/729

Rh her brother to respect the rights of property; inspiring him with this noble maxim, "the more princes abstained from touching the wealth of their people, the greater would be their resources in the wants of the state."

Weak and irresolute; Theodosius, suffering himself to be guided by his eunuchs, neglected to consult her, and the empire but too soon felt how different a hand held the reins of its government. But he died in his fiftieth year, leaving only a daughter, married to Valentinian III. Pulcheria now remained sole mistress of the Eastern empire, and gave herself in marriage, for political reasons, to Marcian, an old officer in the army, whom she made emperor. She lived two years after, maintaining the same excellent and dignified character; nor does it appear that her religious virtues suffered any diminution till her death, which happened in 444.

Her loss was deeply regretted. She alone had sustained the imperial dignity, under the reign of her weak and imbecile brother; and after his death, had placed the crown on a head worthy to wear it. When her counsels were attended to, the state was happy, and the church triumphant. During her life she was a mother to the poor, and left them her possessions at her death. . Q