Theodosius II

Theodosius II was the eastern Roman emperor for an extraordinary forty-two years, from 408 to 450, making his the longest reign in the history of the eastern empire up to that point. He became emperor as a child of seven and was known as a scholar and deeply religious man, earning the nickname the Calligrapher. His reign saw two achievements of permanent historical importance. The first was the construction of the Theodosian Walls between 408 and 413, a massive double circuit of walls that protected Constantinople from capture for over a thousand years. The second was the Codex Theodosianus of 438, the first systematic codification of Roman imperial legislation. Theodosius paid substantial tribute to Attila the Hun to keep the empire safe at the cost of imperial prestige. He died in 450 after a riding accident.

• Lived: 401 CE – 450 CE
• Nationality: roman
• Roles: emperor, head_of_state, scholar