Theodora: Byzantine Empire and Empress Theodora Essay

Submitted By asldkfhasdf
Words: 669
Pages: 3
Open Document
The exact place of Theodora’s birth has not been agreed upon. While some historians say she was born on the island of Crete off the coast of Greece, others say that she might have been born in Syria. Either way, she was brought up as the daughter of a bear trainer who worked at the Hippodrome, in Constantinople. She worked there as a mime, and later as a full time actress, but acting was not a highly esteemed occupation especially for women. Off stage however, she lived a normal youthful life and was most remembered for her wild parties. At the age of 16, she traveled to northern Africa as the companion of an official, and remained there for 4 years before returning to Constantinople. Here she adopted Monophysitism; this was a form of Christianity that believed that Jesus Christ was wholly divine and not both human and divine as was the orthodox Christian belief. With her conversion to Monophysitism, she gave up her former lifestyle, and when she returned to Constantinople she settled down as a wool spinner in a house near the palace of the Emperor. It was while in this humble lifestyle, at the age of 20, that she drew the attention of Justinian. She won Justinian's love, and he appealed against an old Roman law that forbade officials from marrying actresses in order to marry her. Justinian and Theodora were married in 525. In 527, Justin, the emperor of Byzantium, and Justinian's father died. The couple assumed control of the Empire and were crowned Emperor and Empress on 4th April of that same year. Perhaps the most significant event during Empress Theodora's rule was the Nika revolt in which she proved herself a worthy and able leader. During this event, two rival political groups, the Blues and Greens, started a riot at the Hippodrome because a few of them had been arrested for murder. Justinian I ordered the capture and death of these men, but they sought a full pardon and set many public buildings on fire. The Greens and the Blues rallied people against Justinian, and thousands of people were attacking the Great Palace where the Emperor and his officials were hiding and shouted "Nika", which means Victory or Conquer in Greek. The people besieged the palace for 5 days while fighting against the loyal soldiers at the same time. The crowd declared a new emperor, Hypatius who was the nephew of former Emperor Anastasius I. Theodora spoke up and gave a moving speech about the greater significance of the life of someone who died as a ruler, over that of someone who lived but was nothing. Her determined
Show More

Related Documents: Theodora: Byzantine Empire and Empress Theodora Essay

King Justinian Legacy

If one were to ask, who was one of the most recognized and influential rulers of the Byzantine Empire, one of course has to take a glimpse at Justinian. Born in 1482, Justinian not only helped the angelic art at the time, but left his legacy in many ways. It all began when he was called to lead in place of the passed emperor, by the senate. It goes without saying, that was when the start of Justinian the Great‘s era began. This was around the time of 527 till his death in 565, which was an impressive…

Words 492 - Pages 2

Theodora Book Review Essay examples

Book Review Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore Written By: Stella Duffy Published: January 1, 2010 Prior Reading Analysis: Before reading this book I believed it would be about a girl in a rags to riches kind of story, she falls in love with the emperor and happily ever after finally comes after of the hardships she’s faced. Setting: This story takes place in sixth century Constantinople in the Byzantine or Roman Empire, as this was said on page 3 about how the political parties, Blues and Greens…

Words 1107 - Pages 5

Module 8 Essay

and the division of the Roman Empire into eastern and western halves. At that time, the capital of the Roman Empire was the eastern city of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). In the West, barbaric tribes set up different kingdoms that eventually evolved into modern-day Europe. The Eastern Roman Empire survived until 1453, the year the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople. Map of Byzantium. Enlarge [+] "Byzantine art" refers to the art of the Eastern Roman Empire. We usually mark its earliest…

Words 3631 - Pages 15

Rise and Fall of Rome Notes Essay

The Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire Why a Roman “Fall” ● Instability caused by no real plan of succession ● Generals fought for power ● In one 50­year period there were 26 rulers ● Trouble on the borders ● Morally bankrupt leadership ● High cost to maintain Army led to high taxes ● Farmers left land and the middle classes fell into poverty ● Moral decay of culture ● Loss of faith in Rome ● Values such as patriotism, discipline, and devotion to duty declined…

Words 1084 - Pages 5

Ffmpeg and Ffmpeg Builds Home Essay

Achievements of the early Middle Ages Peter Abelard Thomas Aquinas Scholasticism Hundred Years War Byzantine Empire Theodora Government structure Justinian and his accomplishments Significance of the Byzantine Empire Russia Constantinople Orthodox Christianity China, Mongols, and East Asia (Japan) Grand Canal Li Bo & Du Fu Mongols military strategies Confucianism Qin-Han period Empress Wu Tang Japan’s reforms of 646 Religion in Japan Samurai Bushi Daimyos Africa Spread of Islam…

Words 348 - Pages 2

Icons In The Greek Orthodox Church

at Michael Cerularius and his followers in excommunication and when the Patriarch retaliated in with similar excommunication.” (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica, 2006) So what are icons and what is the big fuss about them that shook the Byzantine Empire? Icons in the Greek orthodox church are seen as holy images which depict important figures such as Christ, Mary the Theotokos the saints and angels but…

Words 1023 - Pages 5

Essay about Study Terms

of the Orders: Tribunes and the Concillium Plebis The Punic Wars: First, Second, and Third Effects of Hellenic Conquests Roman Family Life Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus * Gaius Marius and Sulla Julius Caesar * Octavian/Caesar Augustus Roman Empire: Expansion The Julio-Claudian Emperors The Flavian Emperors * The Antonine Emperors Imperial Military Changes Urban Life in Rome Rome and Han China Origins of Christianity Paul of Tarsus * Bishops and Heresy Christian Persecution (?) Diocletian…

Words 1344 - Pages 6