Hello,
in an 15th century german sermon ms., I've read a version of the legend of
Eudoxia and St. Peter's chains. This version is quite different to the
version of the Legenda aurea, and I'm really interested to know a source for
this legend.
The legend says that Eudoxia was wife of Theodosius minor, emperor of Rome.
Theodosius his fighting somewhere in the east. One day, he finds the most
beautiful apple and sends it to Eudoxia. Eudoxia keeps this apple for a
certain time, then she give it to her friend, the knight Andronicus.
Andronicus must leave Rome and fight with Theodosius' troops in the east. He
gives the apple again to Theodosius; Theodosius, astonished, knows the
beautiful apple, comes back to Rome and asks his wife for the apple. Eudoxia
says that she had eaten it, Theodosius shows her the apple and says that
she'd deceived him with Andronicus. Eudoxia has to leave Rome and goes to
Jerusalem. The patriarch of Jerusalem gives her St. Peter's chains, and
after Theodosius' death, Eudoxia returns to Rome with her two suns,
Archadius and Honorius. She gives the chains to the pope as a present.
The Legenda aurea says that Eudoxia come to Jerusalem ex voto and does not
mention Eudoxia deceiving Theodosius. Do you know this version of the
legend? Any help is really appreciated.
Many thanks in advance,
Tobias A. Kemper
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