Aelia Ariadne (Greek: Ἀριάδνη) (c. 450 – 515) was Eastern Roman empress as the wife of Zeno and Anastasius I.

She is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, with her feast day falling on August 22.

[4] Leo was at this point the tribune of the Mattiarii, a regiment wielding the mattea (Latin for mace) as their weapon.

In 466, Tarasicodissa, an Isaurian officer of the Excubitors, came forth with evidence that Ardabur, a son of Aspar, was guilty of treason.

To make himself more acceptable to the Roman hierarchy and the primarily Greek-speaking population of Constantinople, her husband changed his name to Zeno.

[6] Since Leo II was too young to rule himself, Ariadne and her mother Verina prevailed upon him to crown Zeno as co-emperor, which he did on 9 February 474.

When Leo became ill and died on 17 November Zeno became sole emperor, with Ariadne as empress.

Furthermore, the strong Germanic portion of the military, led by Theodoric Strabo, disliked the Isaurian officers that Leo I brought to reduce his dependency on the Ostrogoths.

The uprising received military support from Theodoric Strabo, Illus, and Armatus, and succeeded in taking control of Constantinople.

Zeno fled to his native lands, bringing with him some of the Isaurians living in Constantinople and the imperial treasury.

Patricius, the magister officiorum and lover of Verina, was executed to prevent her aspirations to elevate him to the throne.

that Constantinople was defenseless during Zeno's siege because the Magister Militum Strabo had moved north to counter this menace.

The Senate opened the gates of the city to the Isaurian, allowing the deposed emperor to resume the throne.

Illus not only refused her request, but charged her with wishing to place another person on her husband's throne.

This irritated her, and she, like her mother, attempted to assassinate Illus, a move which appeared to be supported by Zeno.