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- Theodora (born c. 497 ce —died June 28, 548, Constantinople [now Istanbul, Turkey]) was a Byzantine empress, wife of the emperor Justinian I (reigned 527–565), probably the most powerful woman in Byzantine history.
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Apr 11, 2024 · What did Theodora die of? Theodora likely died from cancer . Theodora (born c. 497 ce —died June 28, 548, Constantinople [now Istanbul, Turkey]) was a Byzantine empress, wife of the emperor Justinian I (reigned 527–565), probably the most powerful woman in Byzantine history.
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Theodora was born in c. 497 CE, the daughter of a bear-keeper called Akakios who worked for the Hippodrome of Constantinople. 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 ...
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...
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 - o...
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 deba...
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 b...
- Mark Cartwright
Theodora ( / ˌθiːəˈdɔːrə /; Greek: Θεοδώρα; c. 490 – 28 June 548) [1] was a Byzantine empress and wife of emperor Justinian. She was from humble origins and became empress when her husband became emperor in 527. She was one of his chief advisers.
Jan 15, 2023 · Theodora was born in 500 CE and had Greek origins. In Secret History , Procopius reveals that her father, Acacius, was a bear keeper at the Hippodrome in Constantinople . The name of Theodora’s mother is not recorded, but what is known is that she was a dancer and actress.
Jun 14, 2021 · Quick Facts. Born: c. 497 CE. Place of birth: Constantinople (present-day Istanbul, Turkey) Died: June 28, 548. Most known for: Being the wife and senior most advisor of Justinian I. Major achievements: Advocated women rights and other social reforms. Reign: 527 CE to 548 CE. Predecessor: Empress Lupicina Euphemia. Successor: Aelia Sophia.
Dec 15, 2020 · Theodora died in 548, aged 48. Historians believe that the cause of death was breast cancer. Published: December 15, 2020. Updated: January 12, 2023. Once a child prostitute, Theodora went on to become a Roman Empress who put the backbone into her indecisive husband and championed women’s rights.
Born Theodora (meaning "The gift of God") on the island of Cyprus, or more likely in Syria, around 500 ce; died in 548; second of three daughters of Acacius (the keeper of the Green faction's bears in Constantinople's Hippodrome) and a mother of low status; sister of Comitona and Anastasia; married Justinian I, Byzantine emperor (r. 527–565 ...