Empress Theodora

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Empress Theodora
Savior of the Empire
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Character

• Remarkable, influential woman who equaled
  sometimes surpassed her husband.
• Born into lower class (dad was bear keeper for
  Constantinoples circus)
• Teenage career as dancer and actress
• Loved adventure, new friends, travel
• Married Justinian in her 20s after a long trip
  to Africa.
• Became active in politics - advancing her
  friends, destroying her enemies sometimes
  vetoing her husbands orders.

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• Responsible for several social welfare programs,
  including one for citys poor and homeless girls
• Convinced the Emperor to expand womens rights.

What a girl!
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Theodora saves the Empire

• AD 532 in response to huge amounts of money being
  poured into overseas wars and to Justinians
  tyrannical rule, there was a riot in
  Constantinople - Nika Rebellion.
• It started as a simple shouting match in the
  stadium but soon a mob formed and the city was in
  flames
• The royal family took refuge in the palace -
  counselors advised to escape by sea.

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ThenTheodora spoke

• In my opinion this is no time to admit the
  maxim that a woman must not act as a man among
  men nor, if she fires the courage of the
  halting, are we to consider whether she does
  right or no. When matters come to a crisis, we
  must agree as to the best course to take. My
  opinion is that, although we may save ourselves
  by flight, it is not to our interest. Every man
  that sees the light must die, but the man who has
  once been raised to the height of empire cannot
  suffer himself to go into exile and survive his
  dignity. God forbid that I should ever be
  stripped of this purple (the royal robe), or live
  a single day on which I am not saluted as
  Mistress. If thou desirest to go , Emperor,
  nothing prevents thee. There is the sea there
  are the steps to the boat. But have a care that
  when thou leaves here, thou dost not exchange
  this sweet light for an ignoble death. For my
  part I like the old saying the empire is a fine
  winding sheet.

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Nika Rebellion

• Rallied by her speech Justinian sent troops to
  crush the rebellion.
• The emperor and his troops surrounded the
  hippodrome, killed 30,000 of the rebels, and
  order was restored.

So what do we think about Theodora?