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 accomplish?
What are the two main reasons for the decline of the Byzantine Empire?
- Civil wars.
- Fall of the theme system.
- Increasing reliance on mercenaries.
- Loss of control over revenue.
- The failed Union of the Churches.
- Crusaders.
- Rise of the Seljuks and Ottomans.
Why is Empress Theodora famous?
Quick Facts
- Reign: 527 CE to 548 CE
- Predecessor: Empress Lupicina Euphemia
- Successor: Aelia Sophia
What is Theodora famous for?
Theodora in Pop Culture
- Theodora Lynnmain character in "Theodora Goes Wild"
- Theodora 'Teddy' Altmancharacter on TV's "Grey's Anatomy'
- Theodoracharacter in film ''Oz the Great and Powerful''
- Theodoraan opera by Thomas Morell
- Theodoracharacter in anime "Negima!"
- Theodora Dixcharacter in "Chronicles of Avonlea"
Where did Theodora go?
Later, Theodora traveled to North Africa as the concubine of a Syrian official named Hecebolus when he went to the Libyan Pentapolis as governor. Abandoned and maltreated by Hecebolus, on her way back to the capital of the Byzantine Empire, she settled for a while in Alexandria, Egypt.
Where is Empress Theodora and her attendants?
Basilica of San VitaleEmpress Theodora and Her Attendants, Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, c. 547.
Where is Theodora buried?
Church of the Holy Apostles, TurkeyTheodora / Place of burialThe Church of the Holy Apostles, also known as the Imperial Polyándreion, was a Greek Eastern Orthodox church in Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. The first structure dates to the 4th century, though future emperors would add to and improve upon it. Wikipedia
Where is Empress Theodora mosaic?
the Basilica di San Vitale“The Empress Theodora and Retinue” is a mosaic panel that is located in the Basilica di San Vitale on the south wall of the apse, in Ravenna, Italy. This basilica was created between circa 526 and 547 A.D in the Byzantine art and architecture style.
Who built San Vitale?
The church was begun by Bishop Ecclesius in 526 under the Ostrogothic queen Amalasuntha (died 535) and was consecrated in 547. It was dedicated to the martyr Vitalis, the patron saint of Ravenna. At the time, the city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire.
Is Byzantine Rome?
The Byzantine Empire was the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire after the Western Roman Empire's fall in the fifth century CE. It lasted from the fall of the Roman Empire until the Ottoman conquest in 1453.
Where is the body of Justinian?
Justinian's body was entombed in a specially built mausoleum in the Church of the Holy Apostles until it was desecrated and robbed during the pillage of the city in 1204 by the Latin States of the Fourth Crusade.
Where is Constantine the Great buried?
Church of the Holy Apostles, TurkeyConstantine the Great / Place of burial
What is Theodora the saint of?
Theodora, and her tomb became the site of pilgrimage, as many miracles have been attributed to it. She is the patron saint of Arta, and is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on March 11.
Did Empress Theodora have a child?
IoannisTheodora / Children
What did Theodora say to Justinian?
It is impossible for a person, having been born into this world, not to die; but for one who has reigned it is intolerable to be a fugitive. May I never be deprived of this purple robe, and may I never see the day when those who meet me do not call me empress.
Who was Theodora married to?
Justinian ITheodora / Spouse (m. 525 AD–548 AD)
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
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 is the building of Justinian?
Procopius' Buildings of Justinian, written about the same time as the Secret History, is a panegyric which paints Justinian and Theodora as a pious couple and presents particularly flattering portrayals of them. Besides her piety, her beauty is praised within the conventional language of the text's rhetorical form.
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.
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 Justinian's uncle?
Justinian's uncle and adoptive father, Emperor Justin I , died on August 1, 527, the date that Justinian's reign is usually said to have begun, though modern scholars believe that he actually took over the government as early as 518. When Justinian took the throne, Theodora became the empress.
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?
There are several indications of Theodora's 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 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.
What is the painting of Justinian and Theodora?
Procopius' Buildings of Justinian, written probably after Secret History, is a panegyric which paints Justinian and Theodora as a pious couple and presents particularly flattering portrayals of them. Besides her piety, her beauty is praised within the conventional language of the text's rhetorical form.
Where did Macedonia meet Justinian?
From Alexandria, she went to Antioch, where she met a Blue faction's dancer, Macedonia, who was perhaps an informer of Justinian . When Justinian sought to marry Theodora, he was prevented by a Roman law from Constantine's time that barred anyone of senatorial rank from marrying actresses.
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, and participated in state councils. Justinian once called her his "partner in my deliberations," in Novel 8.1 (AD 535), an anti-corruption legislation, where provincial officials had to take an oath to her as well as the emperor. She was often present when the emperor held court. The emperor sought her views on many matters before issuing orders.
Who wrote about Theodora in the Eastern Saints?
Her contemporary John of Ephesus writes about Theodora in his Lives of the Eastern Saints and mentions an illegitimate daughter. Theophanes the Confessor mentions some familial relations of Theodora to figures not mentioned by Procopius. Victor Tonnennensis notes her familial relation to the next empress, Sophia .
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.
Who was Theodora's dad?
Most biographies agree that Theodora’s father had a truly kick-butt profession. Her dad, Acacius, was a bear trainer who worked in Constantinople’s Hippodrome (in modern speak, a sports arena crossed with the circus). Her mother, meanwhile, was probably an actress and a dancer.
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.”.
Why did Theodora become an actress?
After his death, Theodora took the stage as an actress to support the family. During this time, the profession was considered scandalous—being an actress was synonymous with being a prostitute—but Theodora took every opportunity to move up in a very rigid class system.
When did Theodora meet Justinian?
Theodora met Justinian I in 522, who was at that time heir to the throne. Justinian wanted to wed immediately, but as heir, he was forbidden to marry an actress, even one who had reformed. Justinian had this law repealed the following year, and the two were married in 525.
What did Theodora do to protect the Monophysites?
Finally, she strove to protect the persecuted Monophysites, building houses of worship that served as refuges. Theodora died in 548, but her influence was apparent in Justinian’s subsequent rule. He sought to maintain the same level of freedom for women, setting a precedent for women’s equality.
Who was the Empress of the Byzantine Empire?
Empress Theodora was born into the lowest classes of Byzantine society, eventually advancing to rule over the Byzantine Empire equally with her husband. She grew up on the outskirts of the Byzantine Empire with a father who was an animal trainer. After his death, Theodora took the stage as an actress to support the family.
What did Justinian and Theodora do after the revolt?
After quelling the revolt, Theodora and Justinian confronted the destruction of important monuments in Constantinople, including the original Hagia Sophia. The couple rebuilt the basilica, which was rededicated in 537.
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 …
Overview
Theodora (Greek: Θεοδώρα; c. 815 – c. 867), sometimes called Theodora the Armenian or Theodora the Blessed, was Byzantine empress as the wife of Byzantine emperor Theophilos from 830 to 842 and regent for the couple's young son Michael III, after the death of Theophilos, from 842 to 856. She is often counted as an empress regnant, who actually ruled in her own right, rather tha…
Background and early life
Theodora was born c. 815, in Ebissa, Paphlagonia. She was the daughter of the droungarios and tourmarches Marinos, who died at some point before 830, and Theoktiste Phlorina. Theodora had five siblings: brothers Bardas and Petronas and sisters Sophia, Maria and Irene. Irene might later have married the prominent general Theophobos.
Theodora's rural Paphlagonian family is generally believed to have been of Armenian descent, al…
Empress consort
In 830, Euphrosyne, the step-mother of Emperor Theophilos, held a bride-show for the young emperor, handpicking a selection of young women after having sent out officials to gather the most beautiful and well-born women of the provinces. Theophilos was born in 812/813 and had been crowned co-emperor by his father Michael II in 821, becoming the senior emperor in 829 after his father's d…
Reign
Just as had happened after the death of emperor Leo IV in 780, Theophilos's death in 842 meant that an iconoclast emperor was succeeded by his iconophile wife and their underage son. Unlike Leo IV's wife Irene, who later ended up deposing her son Constantine VI and ruling as empress in her own right, Theodora was not as ruthless and did not need to use as drastic methods to r…
Later life and legacy
Theodora continued to live in the imperial palace until 857 or 858, when she and Michael's sisters were expelled and confined to a convent in Gastria, despite Patriarch Ignatios refusing to tonsure them since he they were not becoming nuns willingly. Later sources record that while in exile, Theodora took pity on a number of men who came to her for protection for various reasons and helpe…
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 too much power. She was kn…
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 l...
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.
Overview
Theodora was Byzantine empress by marriage to emperor Justinian. 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. She is sometimes enumerated as T…
Empress
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 decisions, plans and political strategies, and participated in state councils. Justinian once called her his "partner in my deliberations," in Novel 8.1 (AD 535), an anti-corruption legislation, where provincial officials had to take an oath to her as well as the emperor. She had her official compa…
Historiography
The main historical sources for her life are the works of her contemporary Procopius. The historian offered three different portrayals of the empress. The Wars of Justinian, largely completed in 545, paints a picture of a courageous and influential empress who saved the throne for Justinian.
Later, he wrote the Secret History. The work has sometimes been interpreted as representing a d…
Early years
Theodora was of Greek descent, but 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. AD 500. Her father, Acacius, was a bear trainer of the hippodrome's Green faction in Constantinople. Her mother, whose name is not recor…
Religious policy
Theodora worked against her husband's support of Chalcedonian Christianity in the ongoing struggle for the predominance of each faction. As a result, she was accused of fostering heresy and thus undermined the unity of Christendom.
In spite of Justinian being Chalcedonian, Theodora founded a Miaphysite monastery in Sykae and provided shelter in the palace for Miaphysite leaders who faced opposition from the majority of …
Death
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, although other sources report that she died at 51. Later accounts frequently attribute the death to specifically breast cancer, although it was not identified as such in the original report, where the use of the term "cancer" probably referred to a more general "suppurating ulcer or malignant tumor". Her bo…
Lasting influence
The Miaphysites believed her influence on Justinian to be so strong that after her death, when he worked to bring harmony between the Miaphysites and the Chalcedonian Christians in the Empire, and kept his promise to protect her little community of Miaphysite 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 fri…
Media portrayals
• The artwork The Dinner Party features a place setting for Theodora.
• The jewellery line Nika of Sassi Fine Jewellery is inspired by a jewel that might have belonged to Theodora and the event of the attack of the royal palace in 532 [1]
• Count Belisarius. Robert Graves (1938). A historical novel by the author of I, Cla…