Galla Placidia and her era in the coverage of Procopius of Caesarea and his sources

The article is devoted to the biography of the Western Roman Empress Galla Placidia in the coverage of the Byzantine historian of the VI century Procopius of Caesarea. The author examines the probable sources of Procopius and comes to the conclusion that the alliance of Galla Placidia and the East Roman empress Pulcheria against the usurper John should be interpreted in the broader context of the so-called “crusade” of Pulcheria against the Persians and Huns. The author analyzes the events of Flavius Ardabur’s campaign against the Sasanian king Bahram V Gur in 421-423 on the basis of a comprehensive study of sources. The author expresses and defends the opinion that the capture of Flavius Ardabur by John and the capture of Ravenna by the troops of Aspar were part of the stratagem of Galla Placidia, which was based on the example of the Visigothic king Alaric in 410.