Editing Theodosius II (section)

===Banishment of Eudocia===
[[File:Theodosius II solidus.jpg|thumb|291x291px|[[Solidus (coin)|Solidus]] of Theodosius, minted in Constantinople {{Circa|435}}]]
Eudocia reached the height of her influence with the emperor from 439 to 441, a period in which, according to some sources, the emperor's sister Pulcheria was sidelined in favor of his wife. However, a separation ultimately occurred between the imperial couple between 441 and 444, with Eudocia's establishment in Jerusalem where she favored monastic [[Monophysitism]]. The reasons for her banishment are related by two conflicting tales.{{sfn|Cameron|1982}}

The sixth-century historian [[John Malalas]] explains Eudocia's departure in a legend involving a certain [[Phrygia]]n apple. Malalas wrote in his ''Chronicle'' that one day, the emperor was on his way to church when a man presented the emperor with an "apple huge beyond any exaggeration." The emperor thanked the man with 150 [[Solidus (coin)|solidi]], and promptly sent the apple to his wife as a present. Eudocia decided to give the apple to Paulinus, a friend of both her and the emperor. Paulinus, unknowing of where Eudocia had gotten the apple, thought it was fit for only the emperor, and gave it to him. Theodosius was suspicious, and asked Eudocia what she had done with the apple. "I ate it," she replied, and then Theodosius asked her to confirm her answer with an oath, which she did. Theodosius then presented her with the enormous apple. The emperor was enraged and suspected an affair between Eudocia and Paulinus; he had his lifelong friend Paulinus executed, and Eudocia asked to be exiled to Jerusalem.

But the contemporary historian [[Priscus]] and a sixth-century chronicler [[Marcellinus Comes]] relate a different story. In this version, Eudocia murdered the [[Domesticus (Roman Empire)|''comes domesticorum'']] Saturninus for killing her close associates on Theodosius' orders. In response, the emperor stripped her of her attendants and she went on to settle in Jerusalem.

[[File:34-manasses-chronicle.jpg|256x256px|thumb|right|Theodosius receives the Phrygian Apple and inquisits Eudocia about it. A scene from the 14th century [[Manasses Chronicle]].]]