Marcia Euphemia

Marcia Euphemia, also known as Aelia Marcia Euphemia (Greek: Μαρκία Εύφημία), was the wife of Anthemius, Western Roman Emperor.

Family Marcia Euphemia was the only known daughter of Marcian, Eastern Roman emperor; her mother's identity is not preserved. Ancient sources variously identify Euphemia's paternal ancestry as Thracian (Evagrius Scholasticus, quoting Priscus) or Illyrian (Theodorus Lector). Her stepmother was Pulcheria, with whom Marcian had contracted a political marriage to link himself to the Theodosian dynasty. As Pulcheria had taken a religious vow of chastity, the marriage was never consummated and Euphemia never had younger half-siblings.

Marriage In or around the year 453,

Marcian granted his new son-in-law a series of honors and responsibilities, seemingly intended to prepare Anthemius for eventual elevation to the imperial office. Following the marriage Anthemius was appointed a Comes rei militaris and sent to fortify the Danube frontier, still in disarray following the death of Attila the Hun. He returned to Constantinople in 454 and was rewarded by Marcian with the offices of magister militum and Patrician. In 455 he served as co-consul with Valentinian III. John Malalas states that Marcian took the final step and named Anthemius emperor of the Western Roman Empire, but this is considered an anachronism of the chronicler.

Death of Marcian In January 457 Marcian succumbed to a disease, allegedly gangrene, and was survived by Euphemia and Anthemius. in 472 Anthemius was slain in a civil war. Whether Euphemia survived her husband is unknown.

Children Euphemia and Anthemius had five known children, one daughter and four sons: Alypia, wife of Ricimer. Anthemiolus Marcianus, married to Leontia, younger daughter of Leo I and Verina. The couple led a failed revolt against Zeno in 478–479. They were exiled to Isauria following their defeat. Procopius Anthemius Romulus