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In 450 Theodosius II died in a riding accident, while still relatively young with 49 years of age.

A year before that he called the Second Council of Ephesus, also known as the "Robber Council", in which a the Miaphysite position by Eutyches was defended by Pope Dioscorus of Alexandria. This very much alienated the Pope in Rome, who espoused a Dyophysite position. Sometimes it is even said Eutyches was Monophysite, which is an even further from Dyophysite Christology than the slightly more moderate Miaphisitism.

After Theodosius' death his sister Pulcheria and new Emperor Marcian called the council of Chalcedon, which repudiated 2nd Ephesus, established Dyophisitism as orthodox christology and led to the Oriential Orthodox churches splitting off.

So what if Theodosius lived longer? Without the accident, he probably had another 10-20 years in him. Assuming he upheld the results of 2nd Ephesus, could a split with the Copts, Armenians, large parts of Syria etc. be avoided?

What would happen in Constantinople, which in my opinion was always pretty split and diverse in theological issues? What happens in the rest of the Eastern Empire? How does the West react?

I'm envisioning another council in the 450s, in which a clear Miaphysite position is enshrined as the orthodox Christology, resulting in something as influential as the Chalcedonian Creed. This further council could also remove the misgivings about the procedural irregularities of 2nd Ephesus. Maybe Eutyches gets excommunicated as well for drifting too far into Monophysitism, and to assuage opponents who could live with a more Miaphysite christology.

The relationship with Rome would probably be irreparably damaged. But given how history played out OTL, it probably would have been more beneficial to side with the Eastern interpretation, instead of persecuting them as heretics.

Excuse me if I got any of the finer details of theology wrong, but I think it should be correct in broad strokes. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, though!
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