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Theodora (/ ˌ θ iː ə ˈ d ɔːr ə /; Greek: Θεοδώρα; c. 490 – 28 June 548) 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, Byzantine empress known for her intelligence and political acumen. Though her background was considered disreputable, she married Justinian, who became emperor, allowing her to wield considerable influence. She famously championed women’s rights and mitigated the ongoing persecution of the miaphysite sect.
- 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.
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 · Learn about the life and achievements of Theodora, the wife of Justinian I and co-ruler of the Byzantine Empire. From her humble origins as a stage actress and courtesan to her rise to power and influence, Theodora was a remarkable woman of her time.
Jul 22, 2019 · Learn about the life and achievements of Theodora, the most influential woman in the Byzantine era. She was the wife of Justinian I, the emperor who ruled from 527 to 565, and a monophysite Christian who supported religious and social reforms. She expanded the rights of women, closed brothels and convents, and died in 548.
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 ...
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