It is set against a back drop of war, blood, revenge, and intrigue, but it is the love story between these two strong and interesting people that shines through. Nov 17, 2018 empress theodora represented in mosaic at san vitale, ravenna. Justinian s story is unique in the annals of world history, so its fitting that his empress should have an equally distinct background. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. At 21, theodora returned to the capital and met justinian. The story of justinian and theodora is first and foremost a beautiful and touching love story. Theodora was very intelligent and turned out to be one of justinian s closest advisors and supporters. It is one of the greatest love stories in world history. Justinian was attracted to theodoras intelligence and beauty, and made her his mistress, after which he married her. But i think they are nice example of love having no boundaries at all. After becoming famous she falls in love with hecebolus and moves to africa with him. There are two great gifts which god, in his love for man, has granted from on high. Theodora, byzantine empress known for her intelligence and political acumen.
Her mind was firmly and perpetually fixed upon inhumanity. The love of gladiatorial combat, which was long a favored roman sport, eventually declined, being replaced by. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Oct 31, 2016 upon her death of cancer in 548, justinian was extremely distraught, and he wept bitterly at her funeral, refusing food and drink for days. Justinian was the emperor of the eastern roman empire, or byzantium for the better part of sixth century from the early 520s to 565. So stay tuned folks, more on justinian and theodora to come. Learn more about his life and accomplishments in this article. Theodora ensured that the justinian code gave women rights and protections they had never had. Jun 04, 2015 yet the story of justinian and theodora endures beyond their rise and flows into their reign. In the upcoming posts, youll see what i mean as i go into a little more detail about the years of their reign and their fascinating love story. Jan 01, 2010 this is the story of theodora and her rise from dancerprostitute to empress of rome. Priscus in justinians employment was a letterwriter. Bbc radio 4 youre dead to me, justinian and theodora. Now, the purple shroud chronicles theodora at the height of her power, bringing the ancient world alive in another unforgettable, epic saga.
It was only after the death of euphemia in 525 ad that justinians uncle, the emperor justin i repealed the law, and justinian was able to marry theodora. At the start of justinian is reign he had inherited a surplus 28,800,000 solidi 400,000 pounds of gold in the imperial treasury from anastasius i and justin i. Justinian soon became one of his uncle justins chief advisors and generals. Justinian and theodora,city of love part ii there are lots of rumors about the love between the byzantine emperor i. In any event, the future emperor fell deeply in love with theodora, and she with him.
In 544 justinian published a tract, known as the three chapters, in which he tried to find ground for compromise, but this satisfied nobody. We follow her life story from stage to palace and learn about her influence on the new regime. Oct 09, 2018 it appears theodoras marriage to justinian was a true love match. When justin died and justinian became emperor in 527, theodorafromthebrothel was empress of rome. Her ragstoriches tale is instantly familiar to modern readers as a prototype to the beloved cinderella story, but far from being over when she married her prince charming, she. Because i did not know much about her, it was fascinating how she rose up from humble beginnings to become an empress of the byzantine empire. Greg is joined by comedian shappi khorshandi and historian peter frankopan. Divide and conquer the story of justinian i you could call justinian a lot of things, but you could not call the man boring. Alexandra and theodora richards spill the secrets to rockstar style. No one ever once persuaded her or forced her to do anything. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the purple shroud. Theodora, empress of the byzantines women in antiquity. Theodora was very intelligent and turned out to be one of justinians closest advisors and supporters.
In the historical mystery novel one for sorrow by mary reederic mayer, theodora is one of the suspects in the murder case investigated by john, the lord chamberlain. In the early 500s, justina highranking military commander in constantinople now istanbultook justinian under his wing. It seems to be the truth, for justinian did not remarry after theodora died in 548, although he survived her by seventeen years. Accounts say he was never the same after the loss of his love. Furthermore, his aunt, the empress euphemia, would not allow her nephew to marry a former actress. The two big focus areas of this book centered on justinian s attempt to rebuild byzantium to the glory of the old roman empire with reconquests of north africa and italy, and dealing with the different view of christianitythe holy trinity or the monophysitics which was firmly in place in egypt and growing in syria. Posted on december 15, 2012 by thehistoryofbyzantium. Thanks to our patreon members, we even get an excuse to dabble in it. Upon her death of cancer in 548, justinian was extremely distraught, and he wept bitterly at her funeral, refusing food and drink for days. May 24, 2015 justinian and theodora are often considered the greatest rulers in the history of the byzantine empire. Justinians story is unique in the annals of world history, so its fitting that his empress should have an equally distinct background.
Thirtynine days after the disastrous nika riots ended with the slaughter of 30,000 civilians, justinian directed the city to rebuild the hagia sophia. She famously championed womens rights and mitigated the ongoing persecution of the miaphysite sect. Justinians respect for and trust in theodora gave her power in her own right unmatched by. The monophysites, centered in egypt, controlled the grain exporting regions of the empire. In the eastern roman empire, which would later be called byzantium, a strange thing began to happen during the reign of emperor anastasius. Then we head back to constantinople to see justinian fall in love with a former prostitute theodora. Marrying theodora in 525, justinian married theodora. Theodora, empress of the byzantine empire, and wife of justinian i, was an actress, prostitute, spy and leader who held great influence in the justinian dynasty. Historical fantasy modelled on the byzantium empire and the story of justinian and theodora. He was the favorite nephew and heir apparent of justin i reigned, 51827. The classic rags to riches story is made richer still by. Emperor justinian facts, life, theodora istanbul clues. Justinian, however, could not marry theodora, as a roman law prevented him from doing so.
Her marriage to justin is nephew, justinian, in 525 ad, may be seen as a unique rags to riches story. Justinian had his uncle confer upon theodora the rank of patrician. Justinian and theodora worked together on this project, as they did on many projects. However, the byzantine law prohibited emperor candidates from marrying nonnoble women. The book starts with theodora working on stage at the hippodrome and being trained by menander, a man she feared and loved. Divide and conquer the story of justinian i terrifying world. Nov 27, 2018 theodora, empress of the byzantine empire, and wife of justinian i, was an actress, prostitute, spy and leader who held great influence in the justinian dynasty. Yet the story of justinian and theodora endures beyond their rise and flows into their reign.
What i so love about justinian and theodora is that they are the ultimate wild cards. A historical novel, about theodoras years up until she became empress. Justinian loved his wife very much and theodora love. Justinian and theodora a website celebrating love and romance. Empress theodora represented in mosaic at san vitale, ravenna. After justinian became emperor, he took as his most important work a complete reworking of the roman law. Justinian met his wife theodora, a circus dancer, during his consulate. It appears theodoras marriage to justinian was a true love match.
Justinian and theodora are often considered the greatest rulers in the history of the byzantine empire. Bonza sheila is a website dedicated to love and romance. Usually in talking of kingdoms and empires, we speak of a formulaic transfer of power from parent to child, generation to generation, all within the same dynastic family. Under justinian s rule, measures were taken to counter corruption in the provinces and to make tax collection more efficient. Some modern scholars believe that justinian actually ruled during his uncles reign. What many previous emperors before had failed to do. Justinian i and theodora i christian history christianity. A podcast telling the story of the roman empire from 476 ad to 1453. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to.
The enduring love of justinian and theodora one of justinians last great projects, one of the very few he accomplished after theodoras death, was the building of the monastery fortress of st. The love of gladiatorial combat, which was long a favored roman sport, eventually declined, being replaced by chariotracing. Justinian was furious that belisarius had disobeyed his orders to return and wasted precious months solidifying control over the ostrogoths while persia threatened to overrun the heart of the empire. Though her background was considered disreputable, she married justinian, who became emperor, allowing her to wield considerable influence. The magnificent mosaic of justinian and theodora in the basilica of san vitale, ravenna. Justinian and theodora a website celebrating love and. Divide and conquer the story of justinian i terrifying. Monogenes pais sean and dean kiner extra history music by extra credits. Though she flourishes as his personal courtesan, theodora must consider what will. Theodora soon came to his rescue, however, and brought him back to the relative comfort of the hormisdas palace where he lived under her protection, and after her death in 548, under justinians, for on her deathbed theodora had justinian swear that he would protect her little community of monophysite refugees there, and he kept his promise. From the secret history by procopius having completed our portrait of justinian, let us turn now to theodora. By most contemporary accounts, theodora had more than enough heart and spirit and courage to have achieved all this.
We offer beautiful, free ecards, love quotations, love stories, lyrics, poetry, beautiful vintage photography of lovers, games and amusements for people in love. The remarkable story of justinian and theodorachristendoms 6th century power couple begins in the most unusual place constantinoples most popular entertainment is the spectacle of the hippodromeeveryone is in attendance, even the priests. How a poverty stricken prostitute became an empress. People were talking about how constantinople had a spiritual leader. The crimes of theodora from a secret history by procopius.
Although theodora was considered below his class, justinian didnt care. He ensured that justinian received a classical education and military training. Nov 14, 2015 after justinian became emperor, he took as his most important work a complete reworking of the roman law. Theodora was a very commanding personality with great influence as seen in her persuading justinian to change laws and her reaction to disloyalty when she was left effectively in control while justinian suffered from the plague. Yet she attracted the love of the future emperor justinian, who, to the astonishment of proper society, made her not only his wife but also his partner in government. Justinian loved his wife very much and theodora loved justinian i love you. When justin died and justinian became emperor in 527, theodora fromthebrothel was empress of rome. The crimes of theodora from a secret history by procopius revealing how the queen of byzantium was the slave of her feelings. Empress of byzantium is a very comprehensive biography of empress theodora. Actress, empress, whore, stella duffys chronicle of this amazing womans early years, delighted readers with its exquisite blend of historical detail and vivid storytelling. Theodora was strong willed, opinionated, and believed that women should have rights. Even procopius in his history of the wars admits this to be the case, referring to justinians extraordinary love for her.
Justinian was a farmers son from presentday serbia who travelled to constantinople at the age of 11 to work for his uncle justin, and help in his rise to power and eventual elevation to the throne. Jan 30, 2016 justinian was furious that belisarius had disobeyed his orders to return and wasted precious months solidifying control over the ostrogoths while persia threatened to overrun the heart of the empire. He took the roman name justinianus from his uncle, justin. Theodoras inspirational story shows us that, though we may not be able to choose where we come from, we can certainly choose where we are going. Theodora and justinian have been crowned emperor and empress, but. It was around this time that theodora caught the eye of justinian, who was serving under his uncle, the emperor justin i. Before kim and kanye there was justinian and theodora discover a love story for the byzantine ages. Sep 17, 20 theodora was a very commanding personality with great influence as seen in her persuading justinian to change laws and her reaction to disloyalty when she was left effectively in control while justinian suffered from the plague. This is the story of theodora and her rise from dancerprostitute to empress of rome.