Was writing up the story of Emperor Justinian when I came across the story of his wife Theodora which is even more remarkable. Only 50 years after the last Western Roman Emperor, Augustulus Romulus, resigned, Justinian almost succeeded in re-unifying Eastern and Western Rome. But his story has to wait.
Made up Portrait from the Mosaics in the Church San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy
The remarkable life of Theodora begins in Syria, or Cyprus or Constantinople. Nobody knows for certain. Nor when she is born. Probably 497 AD. She definitely grew up in and around Constantinople’s Hippodrome where she acquired many of the necessary political skills which served her so well in later life. At a very early age she got into acting, dancing and probably dabbled in prostitution. She had a daughter at 15 and became the mistress to Byzantine Governor of Libya at 16. She had a talent for finding influential men and win their trust. But she also had her fall-out. When kicked out by her governor-lover at 20, she had nothing – not easy for a mother with a three-year-old.
Portrait of Jesus in the Hagia Sophia in 13th Century
She found solace with a group of early Christians in Alexandria who believed that Jesus was not human but divine. The Monophysites – as they were called – were not part of the mainstream church and were later eradicated from our believe system. But thanks to Theodora we know about them. She never wavered in her loyalty to the people who had saved her and her daughter from starvation and him them in the Imperial Palace when prosecuted.
There are many good videos which describe her biography way better than I ever could. The focus of this blog is rather her emotional intelligence and how she – a lowly dancer coming from nowhere – was able to get to the zenith of power and stay there. Whilst not formally a Co-Emperor, many contemporaries considered her to be equal to Justinian or even to be the true ruler. She corresponded frequently with foreign rulers, had her own circle of advisors and run the empire without any hiccup when Justinian got infected by the plague in 542 AD. She was a power in her own right.
Antioch was Byzantium's Third Largest City after Constantinople and Alexandria
There are a couple of moments when her career could have faltered - but she was a true master of turning a crisis into an opportunity:
Theodora did not meet Justinian by chance. On her way back home in 518 AD, she stopped in Antioch to meet Macedonia, a fellow Blue Faction dancer from the Hippodrome. Macedonia was also a spy for Justinian. Theodora knew how to network. Macedonia got Theodora appointed as royal weaver and placed her in the vicinity of Justinian. Making the fabrics for the Emperor and his court came with great prestige and a nice salary. Theodora’s “hunger” years were over.
Many People are still fascinated by Theodora's Life
Macedonia must also have arranged the meeting with Justinian – future Emperors do not just bump into ordinary people. But Theodora was no ordinary woman. She was good looking, witty and entertaining. Also, she was well versed in the politics of the Hippodrome Factions (the Blues and the Greens), understood from her years at the side of Libya's Governor imperial politics and probably had access to intelligence through Macedonia. When they met in 522 AD, Justinian was totally smitten by her charm and charisma. She was not just a skilled lover. She was a “partner in crime”, an ally, comrade, loyal friend and skilled advisor.
Theodora dressed in Imperial Purple flanked by her Courtiers, Ravenna
Theodora had an intuitive sense for people. Roman law did not allow Justinian to marry an ordinary woman. With patience and many meetings with senators, she build broad support for changing it. An emperor could make exceptions. Compared to the Roman Republic, Senators had lost most of their power. Their approval was a formality. Still, she got them to sign off. There is no evidence on how she did. Am sure she used her usual charm. In 525 AD, Emperor Justin made the exception. The couple got married. She gave the people the Imperial spectacle they yearned for – from rags to riches. Always a good story. She was a people’s princess.
Emperor Justinian with his Staff facing his Wife's Mosaic in San Vitale Church
Two years later, Justinian ascended to the throne. At his side was Theodora who was crowned Augusta. He used his first years to consolidate his power and to reform taxes. He also launched internal reforms and a comprehensive review of the unwieldy Roman law. Justinian called his wife “my partner in my deliberations” and approved anti-corruption legislation where officials had to take an oath on him and her. These reforms did not make him popular with the nobility who had to concede long-held privileges. The nobles attempted to replace him during the Nika riots in 532 AD. Justinian considered his abdication. Theodora would have none of it. She may die in purple (as a queen) but not as refugee. She convinced his generals to counter attack and take the Hippodrome back. 30’000 people were killed. Order was restored. Theodora had proved her mettle.
The Couple's Project to restore the Glory of the Roman Empire
To avoid further unrest, the couple needed a project to keep the unruly nobles busy. What better than sending them abroad to reconquer the Western Empire lost 60 years earlier. With his treasury full, Justinian sent his general Belisarius and 15’000 troops to Africa. By the end of the year, Carthage was Byzantine again. Over the following decades, Italy and southern Spain followed. Had it not been for the plague, Justinian might also have recovered southern France and the rest of Spain. The nobles were busy fighting. Justinian and Theodora could govern.
Construction of the Hagia Sophia started in 532 AD
and was completed only 5 years later
The couples other grand project was the construction of the Hagia Sophia from 532 to 537. They wanted a religious place where a large crowd could come together to pray – an alternative to the rowdy Hippodrome next door. It was a smart move – Holy Wisdom did not come from the riotous Hippodrome but from the biggest church in the world - build by the Byzantine Emperor. They built the church to last. It still stands – the Hippodrome was dismantled.
Constantine the Great (to the right) offers Jesus the town of Constantinople,
Emperor Justinian I offers the Hagia Sophia - Mosaic in the Hagia Sophia
Justinian’s and Theodora’s grand project of rebuilding the Roman Empire came to full stop in 542 AD when the plague struck. As always, the pandemic killed sailors, port officials and soldiers first. The maritime infrastructure collapsed. Troops could not be supplied. Trade came to a stand-still. Tax receipts evaporated. Then, the Emperor got infected and almost died. Again, Theodora was up to the task. Whilst her husband was sick, she governed without any hiccup and saved Byzantium from collapse and helped the Justinian dynasty to survive.
Justinian and Theodora offering to Jesus - Mosaic from the Saidnaya Monastery in Antioch
Am already well above my usual space allocation. But Theodora is too fascinating a person. She never forgot her roots, improved the protection of actresses and dancers under Roman law, promoted many charities, supported her husband’s reign with whatever means necessary and was well respected - some say even revered to - by ordinary citizens. Empress Theodora died in 548 probably from breast cancer. Her grieving husband survived for 17 years. He never re-married. Theodora was truly remarkable.
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