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Apr 3, 2018 · Definition. 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 her somewhat disreputable early career as an actress, Theodora would marry Justinian (r. 527-565 CE) in 525 CE and they would rule ...
- Mark Cartwright
- 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.
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Apr 11, 2024 · Theodora (born 981?, Constantinople [now Istanbul, Tur.]—died Aug. 31, 1056, Constantinople) was a Byzantine empress who reigned jointly with her sister Zoe in 1042 and on her own in 1055–56. The third daughter of the emperor Constantine VIII, Theodora possessed a strong and austere character and refused the hand of the heir presumptive ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Theodora (c. 500–548) Byzantine empress, known for her courage and sharp political skills, who wielded enormous power as the wife of Justinian I and strongly influenced his policies and actions during their joint rule of the world's greatest existing empire. Pronunciation: Thee-oh-DOR-ah. Co-regent of Byzantium (r. 527–548).
Nov 26, 2014 · Empress Theodora was the wife of the Emperor Justinian. According to Procopius’ Secret History, written shortly after the death of the empress in the middle of the 6 th century A.D., but published only after the 17 th century, Theodora was of humble birth. Her father was said to be a bear trainer in the Byzantine capital, Constantinople ...
- Dhwty
Jun 27, 2018 · Theodora Name of three empresses of the Byzantine Empire. The most famous Theodora (c.ad 500–48) was the wife of Justinian I. A courtesan before her marriage, she had such influence that she was virtually a joint ruler. The second Theodora (d.867) ruled as regent for her young son Michael III (842–856). She expelled the iconoclasts and ...
Dec 15, 2020 · They built more that 25 churches and convents there. The greatest triumph was construction of the Hagia Sophia, still considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. Theodora died in 548, aged 48. Historians believe that the cause of death was breast cancer. Published: December 15, 2020.
