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Theodora, (497 CE—548) was a Byzantine empress, wife of the emperor Justinian I and one of most powerful woman in Byzantine history. Her intelligence and political abilities made her Justinian’s most trusted adviser and used her influence to promote religious and social policies.
Her father Acacius, was a bear keeper at the Hippodrome (circus) in Constantinople and her mother was an actress.According to Secret History of Procopius (an over the top gossip description) she became an actress and prostitute, giving birth to at least one child out of wedlock.
She traveled to Alexandria, Egypt, where she adopted Monophysitism, the belief that Jesus Christ was wholly divine.Theodora renounced her former career and lifestyle. She met Justinian in 522, who was at that time heir to the throne. It was forbidden to marry an actress, even one
that had been reformed especially since his aunt empress Eufhemia strongly opposed, despite the fact she used to be a concubine of emperor's Justin herself before he became an emperor. Still Justinian had this law repealed the following year, and the two were married in 525.
Theodora was crowned in the same coronation ceremony as her husband on April 527 CE. Justinian had insisted his wife be crowned Empress as his equal.They matched each other in intelligence, ambition, and energy.They were intellectual and political equals and her name is mentioned
in nearly all the laws passed during that period.She received foreign envoys and corresponded with foreign rulers,functions usually reserved for the emperor.Her influence in political affairs was decisive especially in the Nika revolt of January 532.The two political factions
in Constantinople, the Blues and the Greens, rioted against the government and set up a rival emperor. Justinian’s advisers urged him to flee, but Theodora advised him to stay and save his empire, while Justinian’s general, Belisarius, killed the rioters into the Hippodrome.
She passed laws that permitted women to divorce and retain control over their own property, she provided mother’s with guardianship rights over their children and banned the exposure of unwanted infants. She also abolished the death penalty for women convicted of adultery and
instigated it for men convicted of rape.Theodora also banned forced prostitution.Justinian on the other hand was nicknamed the “Night’s Emperor” because he was known to work through day and night, sleeping only a little, in order to see projects to completion. One of his greatest
one was Hagia Sofia completed in 537 CE from Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus architects. It was so magnificent that when he entered it for the first time he said: “Solomon, I have surpassed you!” Also his codifying of Roman law remains a part of legal training today
Theodora's political manoeuvres are blamed for the downfall of the chief minister John of Cappadocia due to corruption, Pope Silverius and possibly the Gothic queen Amalasuntha. She was also in bad terms with the great general Belisarius.The bubonic plague struck the empire and
Theodora who was scared of Belisarius popularity, ordered for him to be relieved of his command and his property be confiscated. when Justinian recovered he was restored to his former position but issues with Theodora never stopped until his lonely death.
Theodora died in 548 CE, aged just 51 or 52, probably of cancer. Justinian never remarried.Theodora's daughter had three sons, prominent figures in the Byzantine court.Justinian, after a period a deep mourning, would rule for another 17 years but he never got over her death.
