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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.
Apr 11, 2024 · 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.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- 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.
- 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.
- She abandoned her acting career aged 16. At the age of 16, Theodora walked away from her acting career to become mistress to a Syrian official named Hecebolus, the governor of what is now known as Libya.
- She converted to an early form of Christianity. After her relationship with Hecebolus broke down, Theodora joined an ascetic community in the desert near Alexandria, where she converted to a branch of early Christianity, Monophysitism.
- She and Justinian were an unlikely match. After her conversion, Theodora travelled to Constantinople where she met Justinian, who was 20 years her senior.
Jul 22, 2019 · Updated on 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.
- Jone Johnson Lewis
Apr 3, 2018 · Theodora reigned as empress of the Byzantine Empire alongside her husband, Emperor Justinian I, from 527 CE until her death in 548 CE. Rising from a humble background and overcoming the prejudices of...
- Mark Cartwright
Jun 27, 2018 · Empress and wife of Justinian I, the courage and statesmanship of Theodora (ca. 500-548) complemented the genius of her husband and significantly contributed to the glories of his reign. Little is know about the early life of Theodora, who rose to become one of the most famous women in Western civilization.
When Justinian was crowned in 527, he named as co-regent his young wife Theodora. She was 15 years his junior and his opposite in nearly every way. She was social, witty, supremely...
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