A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Eusebia, Aurelia

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4120374A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography — Eusebia, Aurelia

EUSEBIA, AURELIA,

The wife of Constantius, Emperor of the East, was a woman of genius and erudition, but strongly addicted to the Arian heresy; in support of which she exerted her influence over her husband, which was considerable. Few of the empresses had been so beautiful or so chaste. She prevailed on Constantius to give his sister Helena to Julian, and to name him Caesar. Many virtues are allowed her by historians; among others, those of compassion and humanity. She left no children, and died in 360, much regretted by her husband.