Eusebius (praepositus sacri cubiculi)
Encyclopedia
Eusebius was a high-ranking officer of the Roman Empire
, holding the position of praepositus sacri cubiculi
for all the rule of Emperor Constantius II
(337-361).
in 337, when Constantine I
died; he concealed the will of the Emperor. Eusebius became a supporter of the Arianism
, influencing a converting the emperess and many other eunuchs as he was. He entered then at the service of one of Constantine's sons and successors, Constantius II
, with whom he shared the support for Arianism and on whom he extorted a great influence.
In 354 Eusebius was sent by Constantius II
to talk to Pope Liberius
and then attended at the meeting between the Emperor and the Pope. He sent money to orator Libanius
in exile and, in 355, helped those Arian bishops who plotted against Athanasius of Alexandria
.
Eusebius followed Constantius in Gaul
(353-354) and then in Milan
(354). Here he plotted against Constantius' cousin, brother-in-law and Caesar
, Constantius Gallus
; Constantius ordered him to go to Pula
, where Gallus was imprisoned, to question him about his rule in the East.
Eusebius enriched himself taking the properties of those who were put to death on the accuse of treason; when general Ursicinus
refused to give him as a present his house in Antioch
, in 359, Eusebius had him recalled from his office as magister equitum, having Sabinianus as a substitute.
Eusebius was together Constantius until the Emperor died, in 361. The new Emperor, Julian, set up the Chalcedon tribunal
to judge all those officers of Constantius' that had been suspected of bad conduct, in particular in the case of the trial and execution of Gallus (Julian's half-brother); Eusebius, who was accused of plotting against Gallus, was found guilty and put to death.
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, holding the position of praepositus sacri cubiculi
Praepositus sacri cubiculi
The praepositus sacri cubiculi was one of the senior palace offices in the late Roman Empire. Its holder was usually a eunuch, and acted as the grand chamberlain of the palace, wielding considerable authority and influence. In the 7th or 8th century, the title was also given to an order of rank...
for all the rule of Emperor Constantius II
Constantius II
Constantius II , was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death....
(337-361).
Biography
Eusebius held the position of praepositus sacri cubiculiPraepositus sacri cubiculi
The praepositus sacri cubiculi was one of the senior palace offices in the late Roman Empire. Its holder was usually a eunuch, and acted as the grand chamberlain of the palace, wielding considerable authority and influence. In the 7th or 8th century, the title was also given to an order of rank...
in 337, when Constantine I
Constantine I
Constantine the Great , also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337. Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine and co-Emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of all...
died; he concealed the will of the Emperor. Eusebius became a supporter of the Arianism
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
, influencing a converting the emperess and many other eunuchs as he was. He entered then at the service of one of Constantine's sons and successors, Constantius II
Constantius II
Constantius II , was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death....
, with whom he shared the support for Arianism and on whom he extorted a great influence.
In 354 Eusebius was sent by Constantius II
Constantius II
Constantius II , was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death....
to talk to Pope Liberius
Pope Liberius
Pope Liberius, pope from May 17, 352, to September 24, 366, was consecrated according to the Catalogus Liberianus on May 22, as the successor of Pope Julius I. He was regarded as a saint in the early Church, but his name was later removed from the Roman Martyrology, however, he is once again...
and then attended at the meeting between the Emperor and the Pope. He sent money to orator Libanius
Libanius
Libanius was a Greek-speaking teacher of rhetoric of the Sophist school. During the rise of Christian hegemony in the later Roman Empire, he remained unconverted and regarded himself as a Hellene in religious matters.-Life:...
in exile and, in 355, helped those Arian bishops who plotted against Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria [b. ca. – d. 2 May 373] is also given the titles St. Athanasius the Great, St. Athanasius I of Alexandria, St Athanasius the Confessor and St Athanasius the Apostolic. He was the 20th bishop of Alexandria. His long episcopate lasted 45 years Athanasius of Alexandria [b....
.
Eusebius followed Constantius in Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
(353-354) and then in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
(354). Here he plotted against Constantius' cousin, brother-in-law and Caesar
Caesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
, Constantius Gallus
Constantius Gallus
Flavius Claudius Constantius Gallus , commonly known as Constantius Gallus, was a member of the Constantinian dynasty and Caesar of the Roman Empire . Gallus was consul three years, from 352 to 354.- Family :...
; Constantius ordered him to go to Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
, where Gallus was imprisoned, to question him about his rule in the East.
Eusebius enriched himself taking the properties of those who were put to death on the accuse of treason; when general Ursicinus
Ursicinus (Roman general)
Ursicinus was a senior military officer, holding the rank of "master of cavalry" in the Eastern Roman Empire c. 349–359.In 351 or 352 he was entrusted with the suppression of the Jewish revolt against Caesar Constantius Gallus...
refused to give him as a present his house in Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
, in 359, Eusebius had him recalled from his office as magister equitum, having Sabinianus as a substitute.
Eusebius was together Constantius until the Emperor died, in 361. The new Emperor, Julian, set up the Chalcedon tribunal
Chalcedon tribunal
Shortly after the death of Roman emperor Constantius II, his successor Julian the Apostate held a tribunal at the city of Chalcedon, which was then a suburb of Constantinople...
to judge all those officers of Constantius' that had been suspected of bad conduct, in particular in the case of the trial and execution of Gallus (Julian's half-brother); Eusebius, who was accused of plotting against Gallus, was found guilty and put to death.