Sophia (empress)
Sophia | |
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Justinian Dynasty | |
Father | Sittas (historical theory) |
Mother | Comito (historical theory) |
Aelia Sophia (
Early life
According to the Ecclesiastic History of
During the reign of Justinian I (527–565), Theodora arranged for Sophia to marry his nephew Justin.[5] According to the Chronicon of Victor of Tunnuna, Justin was a son of Dulcidius and Vigilantia.[6] Her father-in-law is also known as Dulcissimus in genealogical resources.[6] Vigilantia and her brother, Justinian I, were children of Petrus Sabbatius and a senior Vigilantia, who was a sister of Justin I.
Empress consort
Accession
Justinian I had several nephews but seems to have never appointed an heir. On the night of 13 November 565 – 14 November 565, Justinian I lay on his deathbed. Justin was his kouropalates and thus the only viable heir within the
In his works, Corippus often translates her Greek name "Sophia" to its Latin equivalent "Sapientia". The meaning of both is "Wisdom", and the poet uses it as both a divine name and title for her. The accession speech of Justin makes specific mention of Sophia co-ruling with her husband, the presumption being that she already exercised political influence over him. Sophia's importance is also clear in Corippus's records of the event as when there is any chance to mention her; he does. As well as this, Sophia was given equal space in the prayer section of the preceding's. Corippus also includes an elaborate account of the church of St.Sophia, mainly as a compliment to the empress who shared its name.[7] Corippus also records Sophia being in charge of the arrangements for the funeral of Justinian and claims she wove his shroud with scenes depicting the triumphs of his reign.[1]
Sophia took the name
Opposition
The main challenge to the new reign was another Justin, cousin to the new emperor. Son of Germanus and his first wife Passara, this namesake cousin had distinguished himself in warfare and was thus a better imperial candidate from a military point of view. According to Evagrius Scholasticus, the Emperor and Sophia initially welcomed their kinsman to Constantinople but before long had him exiled to Alexandria. In 568, the other Justin was murdered in his bed, presumably due to his longstanding rivalry with the emperor Justin for the throne.[8] According to John of Biclaro, the murder was carried out by the supporters of Sophia. Evagrius claims that the head of the deceased was sent to the imperial couple who spitefully kicked it around,[9] a detail likely exaggerated by Evagrius.
In 568,
Financial policy
Sophia also influenced the financial policies of Justin. Having inherited an exhausted treasury, they set about repaying the various debts and loans of Justinian to bankers and money-lenders. According to Theophanes, Sophia was in charge of financial records and payments, and restored the credibility of the royal treasury. The imperial couple tried to reduce expenses and increase treasury reserves. Evagrius, John of Ephesus, Gregory of Tours, and Paul the Deacon all mention this while accusing both Justin and Sophia of greed.[1] She did research their debts and repaid them, which gained her contemporary praise.[11] Sophia’s concern with the state finances can even be seen after the death of Justin and during the reign of Tiberius as they were said to clash a lot over financial policy.John of Ephesus even stated that in her rage Sophia claimed that Tiberius had ‘reduced the state to poverty’ and that it took her years to accumulate he was 'spending in no time at all’. This not only shows her importance in financial policy even after the death of Justin, but also the important role she potentially viewed herself as having.[12]
Religious policy
In 569, Justin and Sophia together reportedly sent a relic of the
For the
Regent (573-578)
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Succession | ||
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Justin reportedly suffered from temporary fits of insanity and was unable to perform his duties as early as the fall of
According to bishop John of Ephesus, Sophia attributed the madness of her spouse to his failure to appreciate her status:
- "The kingdom came through me, and it has come back to me: and as for him, he is chastised, and has fallen into this trial on my account, because he did not value me sufficiently, and vexed me."[14]
During his bouts of madness, Justin lashed out at Baduarius. Even then, Sophia was able to persuade him to apologize and invite Baduarius to dinner. She had the windows of the palace sealed with bars after he attempted to throw himself out of them.
The emperor and senate consulted the empress for the nomination of caesar, and they all agreed on Tiberius II Constantine, Comes Excubitorum (Commander of the Excubitors), as her colleague in power.[9] According to the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor, Tiberius was officially appointed caesar by Justin on 7 December 574.[9] He was also adopted by Justin and thus became his appointed heir.[1]
John of Ephesus and Gregory of Tours record that Sophia and Tiberius, effectively co-regents, argued over financial policies: Sophia pursued decreasing royal expenses while Tiberius argued for the necessity of increasing them, particularly for military expenses. Sophia scolding him for his lavish expenditure and finally taking the keys of the treasury away from him and every financial action, from accounting for government expenditure and income to Tiberius' authorization to spend, had to be reported and the approved by the empress.
Both the Ecclesiastic history of John of Ephesus and the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor suggest that Sophia was planning to marry Tiberius at this point.
Ino eventually left Constantinople for Daphnudium, her previous residence. According to John of Ephesus, Tiberius left Constantinople to visit Ino when she fell sick.[1] Her daughters are assumed to have joined her in her departure from the capital.
In September 578, Justin II appointed Tiberius as his co-emperor amid deteriorating physical health. On 5 October 578, Justin died and Tiberius became the sole emperor. According to John of Ephesus, Sophia sent
Later life
Sophia retained her rank as augusta and continued to hold a section of the palace for herself, even the whole palace was still managed under her. She was deeply respected by the emperor, the commoners and the nobility, which meant that she still had some influence to discuss various matters of government. Meanwhile, her rival Ino Anastasia was also proclaimed augusta. The situation was not to Sophia's liking, and John of Ephesus records further arguments over financial policy. Gregory of Tours records that Sophia took part in a conspiracy to depose Tiberius and replace him with another Justinian, younger brother of the Justin murdered in Alexandria. She hoped to regain her former power as empress consort and a share of the emperor's power: Like the reign of Justin.[1]
Tiberius reacted by seizing of much of her property, dismissing her loyal servants, and appointing replacements loyal to him. However her rank and presence in the palace remained. Theophanes records that in 579 Sophia retired to the Sophiai, a palace built in her honor, and says that she held her own minor court and was honored as the mother of Tiberius.
Return to the Great Palace
On 14 August 582, Tiberius died. However, Sophia remained relevant in Byzantine politics. This is because when he felt himself declining in health, Tiberius is said to have sent for Sophia to ask her advice on who his successor should be.
Final years
Anastasia was the first of the three women to die. Theophanes places her death in 593. Constantina seems to have enjoyed better relations with Sophia than her mother did. Theophanes records their having jointly offered a precious
The Easter of 601 was also the last time Sophia was mentioned in sources.[vague] Whether she survived to see the deposition of Maurice in 602 is unclear.[1] According to the Book of Ceremonies, she received an imperial burial at the Church of the Holy Apostles beside her husband.
Children
Sophia and Justin had at least three children:
- Justus. A son, died before 565. Buried in the Church of Michael the Archangel.
- Arabia, a daughter. Married prior to the succession of her father[1] to the kouropalatēs Baduarius. Her husband died c. 576 while defending Byzantine Italy from the Lombards.[17] They had a daughter, Firmina, whose fate is unknown.[18]
- empress consort of Peter I of Bulgaria.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Lynda Garland, "Sophia, Wife of Justin II"
- ^ a b Procopius, "Secret History", chapter 9, translation by Richard Atwater (1927)
- ^ PLRE, vol. 3, Sittas
- ^ J. B. Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire from the Death of Theodosius I to the Death of Justinian (1923)
- ^ Garland, Lynda (1999). Byzantine empresses: women and power in Byzantium, AD 527-1204. London: Routledge. p. 40.
- ^ a b PLRE, vol. 3, Dulcidius
- ^ Cameron, Averil (1975). "The Empress Sophia". Byzantion. 45 (1): 9. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Evagrius Scholasticus, Ecclesiastical History 5.1-2
- ^ a b c d e James Allan Evans, "Justin II (565-578 A.D.)"
- ^ Evans, Justin II. https://www.roman-emperors.org/justinii.htm
- ^ Garland, Page 43.
- ^ Cameron, Averil (1975). "The Empress Sophia". Byzantion. 45 (1): 16. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Garland, Page 48.
- ^ John Eph., EH, 3.4 (tr. Payne Smith (1860) 171).
- ^ Cameron, Averil (1975). "The Empress Sophia". Byzantion. 45 (1): 20. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Lynda Garland, "Constantina, Wife of Maurice"
- ^ John of Biclaro, Chronicle
- ^ Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. 3
Sources
- Garland, Lynda. Byzantine empresses: women and power in Byzantium, AD 527-1204. London, Routledge, 1999.
- Continuité des élites à Byzance durant les siècles obscurs. Les princes caucasiens et l'Empire du VIe au IXe siècle, 2006
- Cameron, Averil . ‘THE EMPRESS SOPHIA ’, Byzantion, 45(No.1), pp. 5–21, 1975.
External links
- The article about Sittas in the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire
- The article about Dulcidius in the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire
- The article about Baduarius in the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire
- Page from "The Art of the Byzantine Empire, 312-1453" by Cyril Mango (1972), quoting Theophanes on the burial of Justus