been in guarding her father’s throne, that she had selected
her brother’s wife for him. Also, she had taken the nun’s
vow, enforcing it on her two younger sisters. All these
measures had been aimed at barring the way before any
would-be rival to her brother. When her brother’s wife
bore him no children, Pulcheria urged him to marry
another wife, heedless of the Christian ideal of
monogamy. Theodosius, however, silenced her by
seeking the counsel of the Egyptian Desert Fathers who
advised him to maintain his principle of monogamy and he
obeyed them.^28
- Pulcheria, finding that all her efforts had been in
vain and still avid for power, renounced her oath of
virginity and married General Marcianus whom she raised
to the throne. Her marriage was sanctioned by Leo who
readily gave her his blessing, while all other bishops were
not quite ready to validate such a marriage because it was
in disregard of a sacred vow willingly taken. - Being of such mettle, Pulcheria could stand no
power but her own, so she was insensately jealous of St.
Mark’s Successor because f the authority he wielded.^29
Thus her accession to the throne afforded Leo with the
long-sought opportunity to hold the council for which he
had vainly solicited Emperor Theodosius. He therefore
sent a letter of congratulations to the new imperial couple
at the end of which he suggested the convocation of a
council. Each of them wrote him a separate answer. - Several other letters were also exchanged between
the Bishop of Rome and Emperor Marcianus. Their
special interest likes in the fact that they reveal the inward
motives of Leo. Two of these letters were sent in