Theodora, detail of a Byzantine mosaic in Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna.

Theodora (Greek: Θεοδώρα), best known as Empress Theodora (c. 500 - June 28, 548), was empress consort of the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian I, probably the most influential and powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire's history. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1576x2045, 444 KB) Description: Title: de: Chormosaiken in San Vitale in Ravenna, Szene: Kaiserin Theodora und ihr Hof, Detail: Büste der Theodora Technique: de: Mosaik Dimensions: Country of origin: de: Italien Current location (city): de: Ravenna Current location (gallery): de... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1576x2045, 444 KB) Description: Title: de: Chormosaiken in San Vitale in Ravenna, Szene: Kaiserin Theodora und ihr Hof, Detail: Büste der Theodora Technique: de: Mosaik Dimensions: Country of origin: de: Italien Current location (city): de: Ravenna Current location (gallery): de... The Basilica of San Vitale The Basilica of San Vitale is the most famous monument of Ravenna, Italy and is one of the most important examples of Byzantine Art and architecture in western Europe. ... Province of Ravenna Ravenna is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Belisarius is relieved of command over the Byzantine forces in Italy and replaced with Narses. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This is a list of the Emperors of the late Eastern Roman Empire, called Byzantine by modern historians. ... This article is about the Roman emperor. ... Byzantine redirects here. ...

The major source for information on Theodora is Procopius, who wrote about her in three works, History of the Wars, De Aedificiis and The Secret History. All three were written after Theodora's death. Procopius of Caesarea (in Greek Προκόπιος, c. ...

Early years

Theodora, of Greek Cypriot descent,^[1] was born according to some historians on the island of Crete in Greece, but others list her birthplace as Syria. Her father, Acacius, was a bear trainer at the hippodrome in Constantinople. After her father's death, her mother brought her children wearing garlands into the hippodrome and presented them as suppliants to the crowd. As soon as they were old enough, Theodora's mother put her children on the stage, a job which was not highly esteemed, as it was considered the embodiment of immorality and synonymous with that of a prostitute in the 6th century, and by the end of the 7th, the Eastern Orthodox Church would succeed in banning it entirely. The staple fare was the mime and Theodora made a name for herself with her portrayal of Leda and the Swan, where she stripped off her clothes as far as the law allowed, laying on her back while some attendants scattered barley on her groin and then some geese picked up the barley with their bills. She also entertained notables at banquets and accepted a multitude of lovers. Greek Cypriot refers to the ethnic Greek population of Cyprus. ... For other uses, see Crete (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Hippodrome (disambiguation). ... This article is about the city before the Fall of Constantinople (1453). ... The 6th century is the period from 501 - 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... The 7th century is the period from 601 - 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... Orthodox icon of Pentecost. ... Leda and the Swan is a motif from Greek mythology, in which Zeus came to Leda in the form of a swan. ...

At the age of 16, she traveled to North Africa, as the companion of a Syrian official named Hecebolus, when he went to the Libyan Pentapolis as governor, with whom she stayed for almost four years before going back to Constantinople. Abandoned and maltreated by Hecebolus, on her way to the capital of the Byzantine Empire, she settled for a while in Alexandria of Egypt, where she was converted to Monophysitism, a form of Christianity which believed that Jesus was wholly divine, because she is said to have met the Patriarch Timothy III, who was Monophysite. From Alexandria she went to Antioch, where she met a Blue faction's dancer, Macedonia, who appears to work as an informer of Justinian. It may have been Macedonia who provided Theodora to Justinian, presenting her as as a person whom it would be useful to know and as a fellow aficionado of the Blues, as her father was on the side of this faction while working at the hippodrome, and Justinian was their supporter.  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa. ... Byzantine redirects here. ... This article is about the city in Egypt. ... Monophysitism (from the Greek monos meaning one, alone and physis meaning nature) is the christological position that Christ has only one nature, as opposed to the Chalcedonian position which holds that Christ has two natures, one divine and one human. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Antakya. ... This article is about the Roman emperor. ...

She returned to Constantinople in 522 and gave up her former lifestyle, settling as a wool spinner in a house near the palace. It is when her beauty, wit and amusing character, drew the attention of Justinian, who wanted to marry her but he could not as he was heir of the throne of his uncle, Emperor Justin I, and an old Roman law prevented government officials from marrying actresses. Empress Euphemia, who liked Justinian and ordinarily refused him nothing, was against his wedding with an actress, although Justin was fond of Theodora. In 525, when Euphemia had died, Justinian managed to marry Theodora, who had already a daughter, after Justin had repealed the law. Events Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius is imprisoned on charges of conspiring against Theoderic. ... This is a list of the Emperors of the late Eastern Roman Empire, called Byzantine by modern historians. ... Flavius Iustinus Augustus. ... Using the term Roman law in a broader sense, one may say that Roman law is not only the legal system of ancient Rome but the law that was applied throughout most of Europe until the end of the 18th century. ... Events Bernicia settled by the Angles Ethiopia conquers Yemen The Daisan river, a tributary of the Euphrates, floods Edessa and within a couple of hours fills the entire city except for the highest parts. ...

Ascent to the Byzantine throne

Justinian was crowned emperor on April 4, 527 and Theodora became an empress, assuming control of the Byzantine Empire. Justinian, recognizing Theodora's intelligence and abilities, allowed his wife to share his throne and take active part in decision making. As Justinian writes, he consulted Theodora when he promulgated a constitution which included reforms meant to end corruption by public officials.^[2] The imperial status of Theodora also proved profitable for her relatives, as her sister, Comito, became the wife of a rising young officer, Sittas, who was to die young while campaigning in Armenia, while her niece, Sophia, married the nephew of Justinian, Justin II, who succeeded his uncle in 565. Both Justinian and Theodora hoped for children, but when Sabbas the Sanctified went to Constantinople in 531, Theodora asked for his prayers that she might conceive and the monk refused, saying that the son she bore would be a great calamity for the empire. An emperorrefers to Nick Herringshaw, a title, empress may only indicate the wife of an emperor (empress consort. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Flavius Iustinus Iunior Augustus Flavius Iustinus Iunior Augustus or Justin The Divine (c. ... Events January 22 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. ... Sabbas the Sanctified (439-531/532) was a Palestinian Monastic. ... Events End of the reign of Northern Wei Chang Guang Wang, ruler of the Chinese Northern Wei Dynasty. ...

Partnership in power

Empress Theodora and her retinue (mosaic from Basilica of San Vitale, 6th century).

Theodora proved herself a worthy and able leader during the Nika riots. There were two rival political factions in the empire, the Blues and the Greens, which started a riot in January 532, during a chariot race in the hippodrome, setting many public buildings on fire and proclaiming a new emperor. Theodora proved her ruthless, as it was her will that Pompeius and Hypatius, the nephews of Anastasius I, be put to death when the mob had chosen Hypatius to replace Justinian. Unable to control the mob, Justinian and his officials prepared to flee. At a meeting of the government council, Theodora spoke out against leaving the palace and underlined the significance of someone who died as a ruler instead of living as nothing. Her determined speech convinced them all. As a result, Justinian ordered his loyal troops led by two reliable officers, Belisarius and Mundus, to attack the demonstrators in the hippodrome. His generals attacked the hippodrome, killing over 30,000 rebels. Historians agree that it was Theodora's courage and decisiveness that saved Justinian's empire. The Basilica of San Vitale The Basilica of San Vitale is the most famous monument of Ravenna, Italy and is one of the most important examples of Byzantine Art and architecture in western Europe. ... The Nika riots (Greek: Στάση του Νίκα), or Nika revolt, took place over the course of a week in Constantinople in 532. ... A political faction is presently an informal grouping of individuals, especially within a political organisation, such as a political party, a trade union, or other group with some kind of political purpose (referred to in this article as the “broader organisation”). It may also be referred to as a... For the card game, see 532 (Card Game). ... Hypatius was a Byzantine noble of imperial descent who was positioned as commander in the east in the days of Justin I, where he lost many important battles, and later became senator. ... Flavius Anastasius. ... // Flavius Belisarius (505(?) – 565) was one of the greatest generals of the Byzantine Empire and one of the most acclaimed generals in history. ... Mundus (died 536) was a Byzantine general during the reign of Justinian I. Nothing is known of his early life, except that he was originally a Hunnic mercenary. ...

Following the Nika revolt, Justinian and Theodora reformed Constantinople and made it the most splendid city the world had seen for centuries, building aquaducts, bridges and more than twenty five churches, the greatest of the latter being Hagia Sophia, the epitome of the Byzantine architecture and one of the architectural wonders of the world, which burned down to the ground during the Nika revolt. For other uses, see Hagia Sophia (disambiguation). ... The Palatine Chapel of the Norman Kings of Sicily. ...

Theodora was punctilious about court ceremonial and according to Procopius, the imperial couple made all senators, including patricians, prostrate themselves before them whenever they entered their presence, and made it clear that their relations with the civil militia were those of masters and slaves. They also used to supervise carefully the magistrates, whereas previously magistrates had a greater degree of independence and could get on with their work, possibly in order to wipe out bureaucratic corruption. She had also created her own centers of power. The eunuch Narses, who in old age developed into a brilliant general, was her protege, and so was the praetorian prefect Peter Barsymes, while John the Cappadocian was identified as her enemy, because Theodora was jealous of his influence. Procopius of Caesarea (in Greek Προκόπιος, c. ... Narses (478-573) was, along with Belisarius, one of the two great generals in the service of the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I. during the so-called Reconquest that took place during the Justinians reign. ... John the Cappadocian was a prefect in the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Justinian I. John was appointed to lead the first commission on Justinians new legal code, the Corpus Juris Civilis, and became Justinians chief legal advisor. ...

Theodora affected Justinian's legal and spiritual reforms, and her involvement in the increase of the rights of women was substantial, as she had laws passed that prohibited forced prostitution, closed brothels and created a convent on the Asian side of the Dardanelles called the Metanoia (Repentance), where the ex-prostitutes could support themselves, expanded the rights of women in divorce and property ownership, instituted the death penalty for rape, forbade exposure of unwanted infants, gave mothers some guardianship rights over their children and forbade the killing of a wife who committed adultery. For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... The Dardanelles, a long narrow strait dividing the Balkans (Europe) along the Gallipoli peninsula from Asia Minor. ...

Religious policy

Bust of a Byzantine empress, possibly Theodora. 6th century. Museum of Ancient Art in the Castello Sforzesco in Milan, Italy.

Theodora worked against her husband's support of Chalcedonian Christianity in the ongoing struggle for the predominance of each faction.^[2] In spite of Justinian being Orthodox Christian, Theodora founded a Monophysite monastery in Sykae and provided shelter in the palace for Monophysite leaders who faced opposition from the majority Orthodox Christians, like Severus and Anthimus. Anthimus, had been appointed Patriarch of Constantinople under her influence, and after the excommunication order he was hidden in Theodora's quarters for twelve years, until her death. When the Chalcedonian Patriarch Ephraim provoked a violent revolt in Antioch, eight Monophysite bishops were invited to Constantinople and Theodora welcomed them and housed them in the Hormisdas Palace adjoining the Great Palace, which had been Justinian and Theodora's own dwelling before they became emperor and empress. The 6th century is the period from 501 - 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... Front view of Castello Sforzesco Courtyard in Castello Sforzesco Castello Sforzesco (English: Sforza Castle) is a castle in Milan, Italy that now houses an art gallery. ... Type Anti-tank Nationality Joint France/Germany Era Cold War, modern Launch platform Individual, Vehicle Target Vehicle, Fortification History Builder MBDA, Bharat Dynamics (under license) Date of design 70s Production period since 1972 Service duration since 1972 Operators 41 countries Variants MILAN 1, MILAN 2, MILAN 2T, MILAN 3, MILAN... The Chalcedonian churches are those Christian churches who follow the Christological teachings of the Council of Chalcedon, in contradistinction to Nestorians, Monophysites and Monothelites. ... Orthodox icon of Pentecost. ... Galata or Galatae is a district in Istanbul, the largest city of Turkey. ... Severus, patriarch of Antioch (AD 512 - 519), a native of Sozopolis in Pisidia, by birth and education a pagan, baptized in the martyry of Leontius at Tripolis (Evagr. ... Anthimus I was a Monophysite patriarch of Constantinople from 535-536. ... Throne inside the Patriarchade of Constantinople. ... The Chalcedonian churches are those Christian churches who follow the Christological teachings of the Council of Chalcedon, in contradistinction to Nestorians, Monophysites and Monothelites. ... One of floor mosaics excavated at the Great Palace and dated to the reign of Justinian I. It is presumed to represent a conquered Gothic king. ...

In Egypt, when Timothy III died, Theodora enlisted the help of Dioscoros the Augustal Prefect and Aristomachos the duke of Egypt, to facilitate the enthronement of a disciple of Severus, Theodosius, thereby outmaneuvering her husband who had been plotting for a Catholic successor as patriarch. But Pope Theodosius I of Alexandria, even with the help of imperial troops, could not hold his ground in Alexandria against the Julianists and when he was exiled by Justinian along with 300 Monophysites to the fortress of Delcus in Trace, Theodora rescued him and brought him to the Hormisdas Palace where he lived under her protection, and after her death in 548, under Justinian's. Pope Timothy III of Alexandria was Pope of Alexandria between 517 and 535. ... Pope Theodosius I of Alexandria was Pope of Alexandria between 535 and 567. ... Look up Trace in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

When Pope Silverius refused Theodora's demand that he remove the anathema of Pope Agapetus I from Anthimus, she sent Belisarius instructions to find a pretext to remove him and when this happened, Virgilius was appointed in his stead. Conclusively, Theodora's policy on theological matters was separatist. One could argue, as the Chalcedonians did, that Theodora fostered heresy and thus undermined the unity of Christendom. But it would be equally fair to say that Theodora's policy delayed the alienation of the eastern church, and might have postponed it indefinitely but for external events she could not control or foresee. Silverius, Pope (536 - 537), was a legitimate son of Pope Hormisdas, born before his father entered the priesthood. ... Anathema (in Greek Ανάθεμα) meaning originally something lifted up as an offering to the gods; later, with evolving meanings, it came to mean: to be formally set apart, banished, exiled, excommunicated or denounced, sometimes accursed. ... Agapetus I, or Agapitus I, pope (535 - 536), was the son of Gordian, a priest who had been slain during the riots in the days of Pope Symmachus. ... For other uses, see Heresy (disambiguation). ... This T-and-O map, which abstracts the known world to a cross inscribed within an orb, remakes geography in the service of Christian iconography. ...

Another incident, which shows how far Theodora could go to thwart her husband on religious matters, is the case of Nobatae, south of Egypt, who were converted to Monophysite Christianity about 540. Justinian had been determined that they be converted to the Chalcedonian faith and Theodora equally determined that they should be Monophysites. So Justinian made arrangements for Chalcedonian missionaries from Thebaid should go with presents to Silko, the king of the Nobatae. But on hearing this, Theodora prepared her own missionaries and wrote to the duke of Thebaid that he should delay her husband's embassy so that the Monophysite missionaries should arrive first; otherwise he would pay for it with his life. The duke was canny enough not to thwart Theodora and thus he saw to it that the Chalcedonian missionaries were delayed, and when they reached Silko, they were sent away, for the Nobatae had already adopted the creed of Theodosius. Nobatia was a kingdom in Christian Lower Nubia. ... Events Byzantine general Belisarius conquers Milan and the Ostrogoth capital Ravenna. ... The Thebaid is the region of ancient Egypt containing the thirteen southernmost nomes of Upper Egypt, from Abydos to Aswan. ...

Death

The Empress Theodora at the Colosseum

Theodora died of cancer on June 28, 548, and her body was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles, in Constantinople. Though it has been argued that the sole source for her illness, Victor of Tonnena, may not use the word "cancer" in its modern medical sense, yet cancer, possibly breast cancer, seems to be best guess. The Colosseum by night: exterior view of the best-preserved section. ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Belisarius is relieved of command over the Byzantine forces in Italy and replaced with Narses. ... The Church of the Holy Apostles (Greek: Aghioi Apostoloi), also known as the Imperial Polyandreion, was a Christian basilica built in Constantinople (then the capital of the Byzantine Empire) in 550 AD. It was second only to the Church of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) among the great churches of...

Her influence on Justinian was so strong that after her death, he worked to bring harmony between the Monophysites and the Orthodox Christians in the Empire and kept his promise to protect her little community of Monophysite refugees in the Hormisdas Palace. At the end of his life, even Justinian converted to Monophysitism himself, and he did not choose the moderate Monophysitism of Theodosius who still lived in the Hormisdas Palace, but the extreme form taught by Julian of Halicarnassus. Both Theodora and Justinian are represented in beautiful mosaics that exist to this day in the Basilica of San Vitale of Ravenna, Italy, which was completed a year before her death. The Basilica of San Vitale The Basilica of San Vitale is the most famous monument of Ravenna, Italy and is one of the most important examples of Byzantine Art and architecture in western Europe. ... Province of Ravenna Ravenna is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. ...

Culture

Theodora is considered a great female figure of the Byzantine Empire, and a noble pioneer of the Women's liberation movement, because of the laws she passed, which increased the rights of women. After Theodora's work on this field, the status of women in the Byzantine empire was elevated high above that of the women in the Middle East and the rest of Europe. Feminists redirects here. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

References

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External links

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Empress Theodora (6th century)

• De Imperatoribus Romanis - Theodora (Wife of Justinian I)
• Then again - The Empress Theodora
• Litopia - Empress Theodora

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... This is a list of the Emperors of the late Eastern Roman Empire, called Byzantine by modern historians. ...