Theodora was born in the year 497 in Crete or Syria (historians are not sure which location is correct). She lived an unconventional life, and was born into the lowest rung of society. Her father was a bear keeper at the Hippodrome (an ancient stadium for horse and chariot racing and circuses) in Constantinople, and she began acting at a young age. Theodora had a child with a man she was not married to. She was a wool spinner in 522, and she converted to monophysitism, a non-orthodox doctrine.
Justinian (shown in the picture above and to the right, second person from the right, standing next to Theodora), son of the emperor, was attracted to Theodora and made her his mistress. He loved her and wanted to marry her, but actresses (who were considered very low class) and officials could not marry. Justinian appealed against that old Roman law and won. Justinian and Theodora married in 525. She was proclaimed augusta two years later when Justinian took the throne as emperor of Byzantine after the death of his father. He allowed Theodora to share his power and help him make important decisions.
Theodora had great influence in the government and political decisions. She was very intelligent, and many thought that it was her, not Justinian, who ruled the empire. Her name is mentioned in most of the laws that were passed during Justinian's rule. She communicated with foreign leaders. The Nika revolt occurred in 532, when a group of people chose a new emperor and planned to have a rebellion at the Hippodrome. Justinian's advisors urged him to run away and save himself, but Theodora thought that he should stay and handle the revolt. He listened to his brave wife, and Justinian and Theodora stayed and killed everyone involved in the rebellion.
Empress Theodora was one of the first rulers who worked for women's rights. She passed laws to prohibit traffic in young women, and she made divorce laws that greatly benefitted women. She also worked to decrease the severity of laws against monophysites and ended their persecution in 533. Although, she was unable to change Justinian's religious policy from its emphasis on orthodoxy. She died on June 28th, 548.
I chose to research Theodora for my project because she was a courageous, strong woman. She did many important things for women's rights. Theodora was brave, and she proved so during the Nika Revolt. She was one of the first powerful women in the government, and she always stood up for what she believed was important.
Justinian (shown in the picture above and to the right, second person from the right, standing next to Theodora), son of the emperor, was attracted to Theodora and made her his mistress. He loved her and wanted to marry her, but actresses (who were considered very low class) and officials could not marry. Justinian appealed against that old Roman law and won. Justinian and Theodora married in 525. She was proclaimed augusta two years later when Justinian took the throne as emperor of Byzantine after the death of his father. He allowed Theodora to share his power and help him make important decisions.
Theodora had great influence in the government and political decisions. She was very intelligent, and many thought that it was her, not Justinian, who ruled the empire. Her name is mentioned in most of the laws that were passed during Justinian's rule. She communicated with foreign leaders. The Nika revolt occurred in 532, when a group of people chose a new emperor and planned to have a rebellion at the Hippodrome. Justinian's advisors urged him to run away and save himself, but Theodora thought that he should stay and handle the revolt. He listened to his brave wife, and Justinian and Theodora stayed and killed everyone involved in the rebellion.
Empress Theodora was one of the first rulers who worked for women's rights. She passed laws to prohibit traffic in young women, and she made divorce laws that greatly benefitted women. She also worked to decrease the severity of laws against monophysites and ended their persecution in 533. Although, she was unable to change Justinian's religious policy from its emphasis on orthodoxy. She died on June 28th, 548.
I chose to research Theodora for my project because she was a courageous, strong woman. She did many important things for women's rights. Theodora was brave, and she proved so during the Nika Revolt. She was one of the first powerful women in the government, and she always stood up for what she believed was important.