Marcian (; 392 – 27 January 457) was
Byzantine Emperor from 450 to 457. Marcian's rule marked a recovery of the Eastern Empire, which the Emperor protected from external menaces and reformed economically and financially. On the other side, the isolationistic policies of Marcian left the
Western Roman Empire without help against barbarian attacks, which materialized in the Italian campaigns of
Attila and in the
Vandal sack of Rome (455). The Eastern Orthodox Church recognizes Marcian as a saint for his role in convoking the
Council of Chalcedon.