Theodora

Theodora , d. 548, Byzantine empress. Information about her early career comes from the often-questionable source, the Secret History of Procopius . It appears that she was the daughter of an animal trainer in the circus, and that she was an actress and prostitute before her marriage (523) to Justinian I , who, on his accession in 527, made her joint ruler of the empire. A stronger person than her husband, she helped save the throne through her energetic action in the Nika riot (532; see Blues and Greens ). In her youth Theodora came under the influence of the Monophysite sect; Justinian's efforts to reconcile the Monophysites to orthodoxy were probably inspired by her. She is represented in the mosaics of the church of San Vitale, in Ravenna.

Theodora. Oratorio by Handel to lib. by T. Morell. F.p. London 1750.

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 restored the worship of images. The third Theodora (980–1056) was co-ruler from 1042 and was briefly sole empress after the death of Constantine IX Monomachus in 1055.