I read this book ten years ago, but I still recommend it to people. Theodosian Empresses contains a fascinating explanation as to why the Virgin Mary came to be worshipped in the Catholic church. It is an eye-opening political tale. Fascinating. I would highly recommend it to those who seek to understand the history of church politics.

In Theodosian Empresses, Kenneth Holum investigates the "female basileia, the imperial dominion of women." He claims that the foundations for Byzantine female basileia were established during the reign of Theodosius I. He also details the reigns of Eudoxia, Pulcheria, and Eudocia and their importances for the development of this female basileia in Constantinople. In discussing the women of the imperial household, Holum provides a window through which the politics and intrigues of the imperial court can be viewed. Holum succeeds not only in explaining female basileia, but also in explaining life in Late Antique Constantinople, especially court life.

In explicating his thesis, Holum uses both textual and material evidence. His examination of surviving coins depicting the various augustae helps to bring to life Late Antique Constantinople. When approaching the textual evidence, Holum exhibits a reserved credulity. He readily embraces religious explanations for phenomena, but he also examines his sources with a critical eye. With both the material and textual evidence, Holum sometimes has to make assumptions about the role of an imperial woman in a certain event (e.g. the failure of Gainas and Eutychian). These guesses, however, seem well informed and add to the picture of life in the Theodosian court.