The Theodoras of the ancient world are hard to keep straight. The best known is the Theodora of the Pornocracy fame who, with her daughter, Marozia, manipulated the Papacy during the papal Dark Ages. Another interesting Theodora was married to the Emperor Justinian, the man who built modern Constantinople.
Like a country and western song, she was only a bear-keeper's daughter, born about 500 A.D.. She moved from child prostitution to adult actress/prostitute and, at 18, left her acting career to become mistress to Hecebolus, the governor of what is now known as Libya. There she had a religious experience and joined the ascetic Christian sect of Monophysitism, another group stumbling over the Trinity, who believed that Christ's nature was dominated by His divinity as opposed to the dogma that Christ was both fully human and fully divine in one.
Eventually she bewitched Justinian who had one law changed to raise Theodora's status, and another created to allow her to marry, something that former actresses could not legally do at the time. They married against the wishes of Justinian's aunt, the empress Euphemia, herself an ex-slave and concubine.
Eventually she bewitched Justinian who had one law changed to raise Theodora's status, and another created to allow her to marry, something that former actresses could not legally do at the time. They married against the wishes of Justinian's aunt, the empress Euphemia, herself an ex-slave and concubine.
Then things get interesting.
Theodora is most famous for her behavior during the Nika Revolt where a city rebellion created a new emperor. Justinian lost control of the city and planned to flee. Theodora gave a great speech on the value of dying in greatness, Justinian relented, counterattacked, killed an estimated 30,000 and restored the city to his control. Most historians attribute the saving of his empire to her.
Theodora is most famous for her behavior during the Nika Revolt where a city rebellion created a new emperor. Justinian lost control of the city and planned to flee. Theodora gave a great speech on the value of dying in greatness, Justinian relented, counterattacked, killed an estimated 30,000 and restored the city to his control. Most historians attribute the saving of his empire to her.
Theodora and Justinian then transformed the city of Constantinople, building it into a city that for many centuries was known as one of the most wonderful cities in the world. They built aqueducts, bridges, and more than 25 churches, the most significant of these being the Hagia Sophia - 'Church of Holy Wisdom'.
Justinian had a strong legal mind; his codifying of Roman law remains a part of legal training today.
Theodora appears to have been interested in improving the lives of women, particularly prostitutes, with women's marriage and dowry rights, and anti-rape legislation. Her laws banished brothel-keepers from Constantinople and from all the major cities of the empire. She established laws allowing women to own and inherit property. She also provided safe shelter for Monophysite leaders who faced opposition from the majority orthodox Christians, even though her husband Justinian was an orthodox Christian.
Theodora appears to have been interested in improving the lives of women, particularly prostitutes, with women's marriage and dowry rights, and anti-rape legislation. Her laws banished brothel-keepers from Constantinople and from all the major cities of the empire. She established laws allowing women to own and inherit property. She also provided safe shelter for Monophysite leaders who faced opposition from the majority orthodox Christians, even though her husband Justinian was an orthodox Christian.
But, as with so many people in power, she was more interested in the generality than the particular. She was ferocious in her defense of her position and in expanding her influence.
Which brings us to Procopius of Caesarea (c. 500 - c. 565). Procopius was a contemporary of Justinian and Theodora who wrote three histories. In History of the Wars and the Buildings he describes the Justinian wars against the barbarians and the building of the city and the empire in very favorable light. Then comes The Secret History which describes the emperor and his wife as "a pair of blood-thirsty demons" plotting together to "find the easiest and swiftest means of destroying all races of men and all their works, assumed human shape, became man-demons, and in this way convulsed the whole world.”
The Secret History was not published during Procopius' lifetime and is not mentioned until the Tenth Century. It was rediscovered in the 17th century, when a single copy was found --like so many of these things--in plain sight among the Vatican manuscripts. It is horrific reading. Procopius describes Theodora's sexual behavior in detail from childhood--although such descriptions must be said to have been typical of the time among historians--although none of the contemporary historians describe Theodora in this way. Interestingly, her power and influence over the emperor was particularly upsetting to him, women in control being a relatively common horror particularly among writers with a pagan influence. Although Procopius describes her as a demon, John Malalas calls her "pious" and tells of her charity and benevolence. In the Byzantine historical tradition, Theodora comes to be portrayed as extremely beautiful, intelligent and most importantly, pure.
One critic summarizes Procopius' thus: The fear of women in power, and the use of sexual slander and feminine power as an insult all appear in the literary tradition, and can be better understood when placed in this context. (Korte)
Theodora, in Ravenna, is in the royal purple:
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