[b] Theodora is most famous for bringing an end to the second Byzantine Iconoclasm (814–843), an act for which she is recognized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Why was Theodora a good Empress?
Video games
- Theodora is the leader for the Byzantines in the video game Civilization III, and Civilization V in its Gods and Kings expansion.
- Theodora gives missions to Belisarius, the main character in the Last Roman DLC for Total War: Attila.
- Theodora is one of the strongest legendary commanders in Rise of Kingdoms.
Did Empress Theodora died from cancer?
Theodora died in 548 CE, aged just 51 or 52, probably of cancer. Justinian had no heir but, perhaps significantly, he never remarried. Theodora's daughter from before her marriage to Justinian had three sons and all of these became prominent figures in the Byzantine court.
What did Empress Theodora help do?
- Teodora imperatrice di Bisanzio (Short, 1909) aka Theodora, Empress of Byzantium. Directed by Ernesto Maria Pasquali.
- Teodora, imperatrice di Bisanzio (1954) aka Theodora, Slave Empress. Directed by Riccardo Freda. ...
- Kampf um Rom (1968) directed by Robert Siodmak, Sergiu Nicolaescu and Andrew Marton. In this movie she is played by Sylva Koscina.
How did Empress Theodora help women?
Empress Theodora changed history in a big way. The most important thing was that she gave women rights. The first rights were that women can own land. Also if women became a widow the income from the land would help her take care of her children. Without her women would mostly not have any rights. Another thing she did was she proved to ...
Why was Empress Theodora so powerful?
Empress Theodora (c. 497–June 28, 548), wife of Emperor Justinian I, is regarded as the most powerful woman in Byzantine history. Because of her intelligence and political savvy, she was Justinian's most trusted adviser and used her influence to promote religious and social policies in line with her interests.
What were major accomplishments of Justinian and Theodora?
Justinian focused on reconquering the western Roman Empire and expanding the borders, Theodora focused on building up the wealth and prosperity of Constantinople, and together they rebuilt many formerly great symbols of their city, including the mighty church called the Hagia Sophia.
How did Theodora impact women's rights?
So, Theodora shifted the legal authority from the brothel keepers to the prostitutes. Under the new laws, women could no longer be forced into prostitution[vi]. If a woman willingly chose prostitution but later wished to leave, Theodora's laws made it illegal for a brothel-keeper to stop her.
What laws did Theodora pass?
She attended to the rights of prostitutes in particular by closing brothels, creating protective safe houses, and passing laws to prohibit forced prostitution. In addition, she passed laws that expanded the rights of women in divorce cases and abolished a law that had allowed women to be killed for committing adultery.
Why is Theodora a saint?
About Saint Theodora She was alive in the 9th Century AD and she was most known for being an “iconodule”, which means that she supported the use of icons, or images, as part of the Orthodox Christian Church.
How did Empress Theodora impact society?
Theodora is remembered as one of the first rulers to recognize the rights of women, passing strict laws to prohibit the traffic in young girls and altering the divorce laws to give greater benefits to women. She spent much of her reign trying to mitigate the laws against the miaphysites.
What was the message of Theodora's speech and why was it important?
They set many public buildings on fire and proclaimed a new emperor. Justinian and his officials, unable to control the crowd prepared to flee, but Theodora spoke up and gave a moving speech about the greater significance of the life of someone who died as a ruler, over that of someone who lived but was nothing.
What was Theodora's occupation?
Sex workerTheodora / ProfessionA sex worker is a person who provides sex work, either on a regular or occasional basis. The term is used in reference to those who work in all areas of the sex industry. Wikipedia
Who were Theodora’s parents?
Little is known of Theodora’s early life, but some sources say her father was named Acacius and was a bear keeper at the Hippodrome in Constantinople.
What is Theodora remembered for?
Theodora, a 6th-century Byzantine empress married to Emperor Justinian I, is remembered for being one of the most powerful women in Byzantine histo...
What were Theodora’s beliefs?
Theodora believed in miaphysitism, which holds that both divinity and humanity are equally present within a single nature in the person of Christ,...
What did Theodora die of?
Theodora likely died from cancer.
What did Theodora do in the Hippodrome?
The 6th-century CE Byzantine historian Procopius of Caesarea states in his Secret History ( Anekdota) that Theodora earned her living, like her mother before her, as an actress, which meant performing in the Hippodrome as an acrobat, dancer, and stripper.
What was Theodora's influence on Justinian?
Besides the darker tales of personal vendettas & cronyism, Theodora was noted for her influence on Justinian's social reforms & her charitable work.
How did Theodora die?
Death. Theodora died in 548 CE, aged just 51 or 52, probably of cancer . Justinian had no heir but, perhaps significantly, he never remarried. Theodora's daughter from before her marriage to Justinian had three sons and all of these became prominent figures in the Byzantine court.
When was Theodora crowned?
Theodora was crowned as empress in the same coronation ceremony as her husband on 1 April 527 CE. Justinian had insisted his wife be crowned as his equal and not as his consort. The pair also matched each other in intelligence, ambition, and energy, and with their lavish coronation in the Hagia Sophia, they seemed to herald a new era for ...
Where did Theodora travel to?
Before she married Justinian, the nephew of Emperor Justin (r. 518-527 CE), in 525 CE, Theodora left the sands of the Hippodrome to travel to North Africa as the mistress of a medium-level civil servant. After the relationship broke up, she made her way back home via Alexandria where she may have converted to Christianity.
Who was Theodora's husband?
The Yorck Project (Public Domain) Theodora reigned as empress of the Byzantine Empire alongside her husband, Emperor Justinian I , from 527 CE until her death in 548 CE.
Who is the Empress in the mosaic?
The glittering wall mosaic shows the Empress in one panel while another shows Justinian and the archbishop of Ravenna, Maximian (r. 546-556 CE). Theodora, like her husband, is portrayed with a large halo. She is also wearing a great deal of jewellery with necklaces, earrings, and a fabulous gem-studded crown, and a Tyrian purple robe.
How did Theodora die?
Theodora died in 548, possibly from cancer or gangrene. Her death illustrated how important she was in Byzantine political life: Little significant legislation dates from the period between her death and 565 when Justinian died.
How many sisters did Theodora have?
Theodora had two sisters, Comitona and Anastasia, and as a child she worked on stage as a mime with older sister Comitona before becoming a full-fledged actress, though in that day much of what was termed acting would later be euphemistically called "adult" entertainment. Offstage she was known for having numerous lovers and wild parties ...
What happened before the day was over?
Before the day was over, many public buildings were in flames. Justinian had failed to head off the situation, and most of his advisers urged him to flee. Preparations were made, and a ship sat ready in the harbor to carry the emperor and empress to safety.
Who was the most powerful woman in Byzantine history?
Updated July 22, 2019. Empress Theodora (c. 497–June 28, 548), wife of Emperor Justinian I, is regarded as the most powerful woman in Byzantine history. Because of her intelligence and political savvy, she was Justinian’s most trusted adviser and used her influence to promote religious and social policies in line with her interests.
Who was the empress of Byzantium?
When Justinian took the throne, Theodora became the empress. Theodora exercised considerable influence, though she was never made co-regent. Because of her intelligence and unerring political sensibility, many believe that she, rather than Justinian, ruled Byzantium.
Who was the bear keeper at the Hippodrome in Constantinople?
According to the historian Procopius—whose historical work, according to one source, which resembles a tabloid newspaper but is the best available—her father Acacius was a bear keeper at the Hippodrome in Constantinople, a large stadium where chariot races and other events were staged, including bear-baiting. He died when she was 5.
Who was the monophysite that was excommunicated?
Another excommunicated monophysite, Anthimus, was still hiding in the women's quarters when Theodora died, 12 years after the excommunication order.
What was the Empress Theodora's greatest accomplishment?
Empress Theodora: 9 Major Accomplishments. Most known for being the wife of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I (482 CE – 565 CE), Empress Theodora was arguably the most powerful woman in the history of the Byzantine Empire, as she was able to use her immense influence to advocate a number of social and religious reforms across the empire.
Where was the Empress Theodora depicted?
It is widely held that Empress Theodora’s depiction at the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, is the best portrayal of the Byzantine empress| Image: Empress Theodora of Byzantium and attendants (mosaic from Basilica of San Vitale, 6th century CE) Empress Theodora most likely died in 548 CE. She was in her early 50s.
What did Theodora do to spread monophysitism?
Theodora was not afraid to engage in acts aimed at spreading monophysitism across the empire. Often times she even held religious services in the Great Palace of Constantinople. Empress Theodora religious campaign resulted in the Land of Nubia adopting Monophysitism around 540 CE.
What did Theodora do to help women?
Empress Theodora used her immense influence to get number of laws passed that fought against the trafficking of young girls and abuse of women in general. She also pushed for the amendment of divorce laws in order to grant women a fairer judgement during divorce proceedings.
Where did Theodora work?
He worked at the Hippodrome of Constantinople. According to Procopius of Caesarea’s Secret History ( Anekdota ), Theodora followed in her mother’s footsteps and became an actress, an acrobat and a stripper. The 6 th century CE Byzantine historian Procopius said that Theodora might have also been a prostitute.
What kind of ruler was Theodora?
She was a shrewd ruler , the kind that wasn’t afraid to act in an immoral and devious manner in order to attain her heart desires | Image: Empress Theodora depicted with a large halo and assorted jewelry, including a gem-designed crown and a Tyrian purple robe
Who was younger, Emperor Justinian or Empress Theodora?
Empress Theodora, 20 years younger than Justinian I, was crowned a co-ruler. What this meant was that Empress Theodora was not a consort, rather an equal to her husband, Emperor Justinian I, per the instruction given by the latter.
When did Theodora become empress?
She became empress upon Justinian's accession in 527 and was one of his chief advisers, albeit from humble origins. Along with her spouse, Theodora is a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Oriental Orthodox Church, commemorated on 14 November and 28 June respectively.
Where was Theodora born?
Theodora, according to Michael Grant, was of Greek Cypriot descent. There are several indications of her possible birthplace. According to Michael the Syrian, her birthplace was in Mabbug , Syria; Nicephorus Callistus Xanthopoulos names Theodora a native of Cyprus, while the Patria, attributed to George Codinus, claims Theodora came from Paphlagonia. She was born c. 500 AD. Her father, Acacius, was a bear trainer of the hippodrome's Green faction in Constantinople. Her mother, whose name is not recorded, was a dancer and an actress. Her parents had two more daughters, the eldest named Comito and the youngest Anastasia. After her father's death, when Theodora was four, her mother brought her children wearing garlands into the hippodrome and presented them as suppliants to the Blue faction. From then on, Theodora would be their supporter.
What did Justinian and Theodora do after the Nika revolt?
Following the Nika revolt, Justinian and Theodora rebuilt and reformed Constantinople, building or rebuilding aqueducts, bridges and more than twenty five churches. The most famous of these is Hagia Sophia, considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture . Theodora was punctilious about court ceremony.
What did the Miaphysites believe about Theodora?
The Miaphysites believed her influence on Justinian to be so strong that after her death, when he worked to bring harmony between the Monophysites and the Chalcedonian Christians in the Empire, and kept his promise to protect her little community of Monophysite refugees in the Hormisdas Palace, the Miaphysites suspected Theodora's memory to be the driving factor. Theodora provided much political support for the ministry of Jacob Baradaeus, and apparently personal friendship as well. Diehl attributes the modern existence of Jacobite Christianity equally to Baradaeus and to Theodora.
How did Theodora die?
Theodora's death is recorded by Victor of Tonnena, with the cause uncertain but the Greek terms used are often translated as " cancer ." The date was 28 June 548 at the age of 48. Later accounts frequently attribute the death to breast cancer, although it was not identified as such in the original report where the use of the term "cancer" probably referred to "a suppurating ulcer or malignant tumor". Other sources report that she died at 51. Her body was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles, in Constantinople. During a procession in 559, Justinian visited and lit candles for her tomb.
Where are Justinian and Theodora's tombs?
Both Theodora and Justinian are represented in mosaics that exist to this day in the Basilica of San Vitale of Ravenna, Italy, which was completed a year before her death.
Who was the empress of the Eastern Roman Empire?
When Justinian succeeded to the throne in 527, two years after the marriage, Theodora was crowned Augusta and became empress of the Eastern Roman Empire. She shared in his plans and political strategies, participated in state councils, and Justinian called her his "partner in my deliberations.".
What are some interesting facts about Theodora?
Here are 10 facts about the ‘Golden Queen’ of the Byzantine Empire. 1. She led an unconventional early life. Theodora was the daughter of Acacius, a bear-keeper who worked for the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Little is known of her early years. Her mother, whose name is not recorded, was a dancer and actress.
What was Theodora's role in the Hippodrome?
Along with her two sisters, Comitona and Anastasia, Theodora would become an actress, dancer, mime artist and comedian. By 15, she was the star of the hippodrome. At the time, much of what was called “acting” would have involved sexual or indecent performances on stage.
What was the greatest architectural wonder in the world?
Aqueducts, bridges and churches were built and rebuilt – the greatest of them was the Hagia Sophia, considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. 9. Her death dealt a severe blow to Byzantine politics. Theodora died in 548 at the age of 48, possibly or cancer of gangrene.
How long did Theodora rule?
They would rule together in a golden period of Byzantine history. Highly intelligent and political astute, she would use her influence to promote religious and social policies and significantly expand the rights of women.
How many children did Theodora have?
Theodora’s daughter (from before her marriage to Justinian) would go on to have three sons, all of who became prominent figures in Byzantine politics. 10. She was overlooked and misunderstood by historians. Despite playing a key role in Byzantine history, Theodora was largely overlooked by historians and scholars.
Why did Justinian and Euphemia marry?
Their marriage was against the express wishes of Justinian’s aunt, the empress Euphemia, who was herself a former slave and prostitute.
Where is the Mosaic of Theodora?
Mosaic of Empress Theodora in San Vitale in Ravenna (Credit: Public domain ). Justinian treated his wife as his intellectual partner, and in doing so Theodora was able to have a major impact on the political decisions of the Byzantine Empire.
Who was Theodora's most audacious role?
By this point, she’s been a courtesan, a performer, a convert, and a spy—but now, she was ready for her most audacious role: Empress. In 522, Theodora met Justinian, the Emperor of Eastern Rome, and immediately entranced him.
Where was Theodora born?
Despite that tidbit of knowledge, nobody is 100% certain about her origins. Different writers name her birthplace as Syria, the island of Cyprus, or Paphlagonia.
What happened to Theodora in 532?
In 532, Theodora took her kick-butt reputation to the next level. This was the year that Theodora’s husband made an appearance to celebrate a high-profile race. Unfortunately, the emperor’s stint as a Fast and Furious- esque race starter couldn’t have gone worse. You see, the audience wasn’t very happy with Justinian or, to be specific, his tax hikes. For them, his appearance at the races was a perfect opportunity to raise some hell.
What did Aunt Euphemia do to Justinian?
Aunt Euphemia made it her mission to keep Justinian from putting a ring on Theodora’s finger. But the joke’s on her! She kicked the bucket too soon to do anything about it. Euphemia passed in either 523 or 524, clearing the way for Justinian and Theodora’s royal wedding. However, Theodora soon learned that an old lady’s disapproval wasn’t the only thing standing in between her and the throne.
What did Theodora say to Justinian?
In Theodora’s words, it looked like it was up to “a woman” to “give an example of courage to men.” Call the burn unit, because Theodora just destroyed these guys.
How old was Theodora when she had her baby?
Oof, living in the ancient world and being a lady was a rough deal. When Theodora was just 14 years old, she was forced to grow up way too fast. She had a child—when she was still a child herself. To this day, we don’t even know the name of Theodora’s baby daughter—just that she was definitely born outside of wedlock.
What did Theodora use instead of a swan?
She Was Racy. Allegedly, Theodora would use a goose onstage instead of a swan, all while encouraging it by sprinkling bits of barley “into the calyx of this passion flower, whence geese, trained for the purpose, would next pick the grains one by one with their bills and eat.”.
Early Life
The Nika Revolt
- Theodora's active role in Byzantine politics and the staunch support she gave her husband are best revealed by the incident of the Nika Revolt of 11-19 January 532 CE. This was an infamous riot caused by factions of the supporters in the Hippodrome of Constantinople. The real causes for complaint were Justinian's tax hikes (to pay for his incessant...
Attitude to The Church
- Theodora's religious policies seem to have been entirely her own, they were certainly not those of her husband, the leader of the Byzantine church and protector of orthodoxy. The Empress favoured Monophysitism, that is the belief that Jesus Christ had only one, divine nature (physis), which went against the orthodox view that he had two natures - one human and one divine. Nor …
Political Intrigues
- Theodora's political manoeuvres are blamed for the downfall of the chief minister John of Cappadocia, although he was none too popular with the Byzantine people either because he was seen as the instigator of the oppressive tax reforms which had caused the Nika Revolt. Procopius, too, paints the finance minister as a paradigm of corruption and debauchery. John was dismisse…
Death
- Theodora died in 548 CE, aged just 51 or 52, probably of cancer. Justinian had no heir but, perhaps significantly, he never remarried. Theodora's daughter from before her marriage to Justinian had three sons and all of these became prominent figures in the Byzantine court. Justinian, after a period a deep mourning, would rule for another 17 years but he never seemed …
Early Life
Marriage
- When Justinian somehow met her, he was attracted by her beauty and intelligence and made her his mistress before marrying her in 525. Because of her disreputable background, special legislation was required to legalize such a marriage. (The independent record of this law being changed supports Procopius' account of Theodora's lowly origins.) Justinian's uncle and adoptiv…
Nika Revolt
- Her influence in political affairs is illustrated by the Nika Revoltof January 532, which involved the Blues and the Greens, two Constantinople political factions that sponsored chariot races, animal contests, and stage plays in the Hippodrome and had attained substantial political power. The Blues and Greens had set aside their traditional rivalry to unite and oppose the government and …
Religion
- Theodora was a monophysite Christian, believing that Jesus Christ's nature was purely divine, while her husband reflected orthodox Christianity, which holds that Jesus' nature was both human and divine. Some commentators, including Procopius, allege that their differences were more pretense than a reality, presumably to keep the church from having ...
Death and Legacy
- Theodora died in 548, possibly from cancer or gangrene. Her death illustrated how important she was in Byzantine political life: Little significant legislation dates from the period between her death and 565 when Justinian died. Theodora had given birth to a daughter, either before she met Justinian or early in their marriage, but the girl didn't live long. No other children were born to th…
Sources
- Browning, Robert. "Justinian and Theodora." Gorgias Pr Llc, January 1, 2003.
- Garland, Lynda. "Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium AD 527-1204." 1st Edition, Routledge, January 8, 2011.
- Holmes, William Gordon. "The Age of Justinian and Theodora, Vol. 1: A History of the Sixth Century." Paperback, Abridged edition, Forgotten Books, July 6, 2017.
- Browning, Robert. "Justinian and Theodora." Gorgias Pr Llc, January 1, 2003.
- Garland, Lynda. "Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium AD 527-1204." 1st Edition, Routledge, January 8, 2011.
- Holmes, William Gordon. "The Age of Justinian and Theodora, Vol. 1: A History of the Sixth Century." Paperback, Abridged edition, Forgotten Books, July 6, 2017.
- Procopius. "The Secret History." Penguin Classics, Peter Sarris (Editor, Translator, Introduction), G. A. Williamson (Translator), Paperback, New Ed. / edition, December 18, 2007.
