CHAPTER XXIII

DEATH OF THE EMPEROR ARCADIUS

NOT long after the death of John, the emperor Arcadius died also. This prince was of a mild and gentle disposition, and toward the close of his life was esteemed to be greatly beloved of God, from the following circumstance. There was at Constantinople an immense mansion called Carya, because of a nut-tree in the court of it, on which it is said Acacius suffered martyrdom by hanging. A chapel was on that account built near it, which the emperor Arcadius one day thought fit to visit, and after having prayed there, left again. All who lived near this oratory ran in a crowd to see the emperor; and some going out of the mansion referred to, endeavoured to pre-occupy the streets in order to get a better view of their sovereign and his suite, while others followed in his train, until all who inhabited it, including the women and children, had wholly gone out of it. No sooner was this vast pile emptied of its occupants, the buildings of which completely environed the church, than the entire mass fell. On which there was a great outcry, followed by shouts of admiration, because it was believed the emperor’s prayer had rescued so great a number of persons from destruction. After this event, on the 1st of May, Arcadius died, leaving his son Theodosius only eight years old, under the consulate of Bassus and Philip, in the second year of the 297th Olympiad. He had reigned thirteen years with Theodosius his father, and fourteen years after his death, and had only then attained the thirty-first year of his age. This book includes the space of twelve years and six months.