Serena (died 409) was a Theodosian imperial woman, niece of Theodosius I. In 384, Theodosius arranged her marriage to a rising military officer, Stilicho. Stilicho's marriage to Serena ensured his loyalty to the House of Theodosius in the years ahead. A resident at the court of her cousin, Honorius, she selected a bride for the court poet, Claudian, and took care of Honorius' half-sister, her cousin Galla Placidia. She and Stilicho had a son, Eucherius, and two daughters, Maria and Thermantia, successively the first and second wives of Honorius. According to the pagan historian Zosimus, Serena took a necklace from a statue of Rhea Silvia and placed it on her own neck. However, this was later dismissed; Serena was not a pagan and did not associate with them. Stilicho was executed on Honorius' orders in 408. During the siege of Rome by the Visigoths the following year, Serena was falsely accused of conspiring with the Goths, and was executed with Galla Placidia's consent. Notes Bibliography Santo Mazzarino. Serena e le due Eudossie. Roma, Istituto Nazionale di Studi Romani, 1946 409 deaths 4th-century Christians 5th-century Christians Executed ancient Roman women 5th-century Roman women Theodosian dynasty Romans from Hispania 5th-century executions Year of birth unknown 4th-century births People executed by the Roman Empire Executed ancient Roman people Romans from unknown gentes 4th-century Roman women