Theodora Porphyrogenita
| Theodora Porphyrogenita | |
|---|---|
Byzantine co-empress | |
| Reign | 1042–1055 |
| Emperor | Constantine IX (1042–1055) |
| Born | c. 980 Constantinople |
| Died | 31 August 1056 (aged 76) Constantinople |
| Burial | Church of the Holy Apostles, Constantinople |
| Dynasty | Macedonian |
| Father | Constantine VIII |
| Mother | Helena |
Theodora Porphyrogenita[a] (Greek: Θεοδώρα Πορφυρογέννητη, romanized: Theodṓra Porphyrogénnētē; c. 980 – 31 August 1056) was Byzantine Empress from 21 April 1042 to her death on 31 August 1056, and sole ruler from 11 January 1055. She was the last sovereign of the Macedonian dynasty, that ruled the Byzantine Empire for almost 200 years.
Theodora was the youngest daughter of Emperor Constantine VIII. After Theodora's father died in 1028, her older sister Zoë co-ruled with her husbands Romanos III and Michael IV, keeping Theodora closely watched. After two foiled plots, Theodora was exiled to an island monastery in the Sea of Marmara in 1031. A decade later, the people of Constantinople rose against Michael IV's nephew and successor, Michael V, and insisted that Theodora return to rule alongside Zoë.
After 65 days Zoë married again, to Constantine IX, who assumed the imperial responsibilities. Theodora seemingly retired to a convent after Zoë's death in 1050. When Constantine died, the 74-year-old Theodora returned to the throne despite fierce opposition from court officials and military claimants. For 16 months she ruled as empress in her own right before succumbing to a sudden illness and dying at 76. She was the last ruler of the Macedonian line.
Early life
Theodora was the third and youngest daughter of Byzantine Emperor Constantine VIII and Helena, daughter of Alypius.[4]: 503 She was Porphyrogenita,[5]: 259 "born into the purple"; the appellation for a child born in the capital to a reigning emperor. Her father became co-emperor in 962 and sole emperor upon the death of his brother Basil II in 1025. His reign as sole emperor lasted less than three years, from 15 December 1025 to 12 November 1028.[4]: 503–504
As an eligible imperial princess, Theodora was considered as a possible bride for the Holy Roman Emperor in the west, Otto III, in 996. However, she was overlooked in favour of her sister Zoë. Otto III died before any marriage could occur.[5]: 253, 259 Basil II prevented his nieces from marrying any of the Byzantine nobility, calculating that such a marriage would have given their husbands a claim on the imperial throne. As women, Theodora and Zoë were unable to exercise any state authority; their only say in this was in choosing, or more likely accepting or not, a husband who would acquire their authority upon marriage.[6] Consequently, Theodora lived a life of virtual obscurity in the imperial gynaeceum (women's quarters).[5]: 269
Intelligent and possessing a strong and austere character, Theodora defied Constantine—by then, sole emperor—by refusing to marry the man her father had chosen to succeed him, Romanos Argyros, stating that Romanos was already married—his wife having become a nun to allow Romanos to marry into the imperial family.[7]: 465 Theodora further claimed that since Romanos and she were third cousins, it was too close a blood relationship for marriage to occur.[5]: 270 Consequently, Constantine VIII chose Theodora's sister. Zoë married Romanos three days before her father died.[8]: 584
With the accession of Romanos, Theodora prudently retreated back into the gynaeceum, with its daily religious routines.[5]: 276 Still, Zoë persuaded her husband to appoint one of his own men as the chief of Theodora's household, with orders to spy on her.[7]: 469 Shortly afterwards, Theodora was accused of plotting to marry the Bulgarian prince Presian and usurp the throne with him. Presian was blinded and sent to a monastery; Theodora was not punished. In 1031 she was implicated in a similar conspiracy, this time with Constantine Diogenes, the Archon of Sirmium.[4]: 627 Theodora was forcibly confined in the monastery of Petrion. During a visit, Zoë compelled her sister to "assume the monastic habit."[7]: 471 Theodora remained there for the next 11 years as Zoë managed the empire with her husbands Romanos III and, after his death, Michael IV.[9]
Co-empress with Zoë
With Michael IV's death in December 1041, Zoë adopted Michael's nephew, who was crowned as
Key members of the court decided that flighty Zoë needed a co-ruler, and backed the people's demand that it should be Theodora.[4]: 2038 [5]: 298 A delegation, headed by the patrician Constantine Cabasilas,[5]: 298 went to the monastery at Petrion to convince Theodora to become co-empress.[7]: 496 Theodora, accustomed to a life of religious contemplation, rejected their pleas out of hand, and fled to the convent chapel to seek sanctuary. Constantine and his retinue pursued her, forcibly dragged her out and exchanged her monastic clothes for imperial ones. At an assembly at Hagia Sophia, the people escorted the now furious Theodora and proclaimed her empress with Zoë. They were both crowned at dawn on 21 April.[4]: 2038 After the ceremony, the mob stormed the palace, forcing Michael V to escape to a monastery.[5]: 298–300
Zoë immediately assumed power and tried to force Theodora back to her monastery, but the
Although Theodora and Zoë appeared together at meetings of the Senate or when they gave public audiences, it was soon apparent that their joint reign was under considerable strain. Still jealous of Theodora, Zoë had no desire to administer the empire, but she would not allow Theodora to conduct public business alone. Court factions formed behind each empress.
Constantine IX's preferential treatment of his mistress in the early part of his reign caused rumours that he was planning to murder Theodora and Zoë.[5]: 309 This led to a popular uprising by the citizens of Constantinople in 1044, which came dangerously close to actually harming Constantine who was participating in a religious procession along the streets of Constantinople.[10] The mob was only quieted by the appearance on a balcony of Zoë and Theodora, who reassured the mob they were in no danger of assassination.[7]: 503
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Gold histamenon of Zoë and Theodora, 1042 -
Zoë (left), Constantine IX (centre), and Theodora (right) depicted on the Monomachus Crown -
Golden seal of Theodora, 1056 -
15th-century portrait of Theodora in the Mutinensis gr. 122
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Return to power
After Zoë's death in 1050, Theodora seems to have retired to a convent, leaving Constantine IX to rule alone until his own death on 11 January 1055. As Constantine lay dying, he was persuaded by his councilors, chiefly the logothetes tou dromou John, to ignore the rights of Theodora and to pass the throne to the doux (Duke) of the Byzantine Theme of Bulgaria, Nikephoros Proteuon.[7]: 527 However, Theodora preempted their plans when, despite her advanced age, she vigorously asserted her right to rule. She came out of retirement and convened the Senate, and the imperial guard proclaimed her "emperor" shortly before Constantine's death.[11][8]: 596
A purge of senior officials and the leadership of the European military units followed. Nikephoros Proteuon was arrested at
Theodora controlled the nobles and checked numerous abuses. She damaged her reputation, however, with excessive severity toward private enemies and undue employment of such menials as
During Theodora's sole ruling period, her coins and seals bear the inscription 'Theodora, δέσποινα (déspoina) and porphyrogenita' and 'Theodora,
When Theodora was seventy-six, the patriarch Michael Keroularios advocated that Theodora advance a subject to the throne through marriage to her, in order to assure a succession. She refused to consider marriage, no matter how token. She also refused to name an heir to the throne. Theodora became gravely ill with an intestinal disorder in late August 1056. On 31 August her advisors, chaired by Leo Paraspondylos, met to decide whom to recommend to her as a successor. According to Psellus, they selected Michael Bringas, an aged civil servant and former
See also
Notes
- ^ Sometimes enumerated as Theodora III, after Justinian I's wife Theodora (I) (who held considerable authority) and the previous empress regnant Theodora (II).[2][3]
Citations
- ^ ISBN 978-5-87507-066-2.
Tʜᴇᴏᴅᴏʀᴀ, daughter of Constantine VIII, 11 Jan. 1055—31 Aug. 1056 (with her sister Zoe, 21 April 1042—11 June 1042).
- ISBN 978-90-04-44256-6.
- ISBN 978-1-4408-4693-9.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kazhdan
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Norwich
- ^ Garland, Zoe Porphyrogenita
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Finlay.
- ^ a b c Treadgold (1997).
- ^ Norwich 276, 279.
- ^ Finlay, pg. 503
- ^ Garland (1999), pp. 165–66
- ISBN 978-1-108-49067-2.
General sources
Primary sources
- Michael Psellus, Chronographia.
- Thurn, Hans, ed. (1973). Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis historiarum. Berlin & New York: De Gruyter. OCLC 1025783.
Secondary sources
- George Finlay, History of the Byzantine Empire from 716–1057, William Blackwood & Sons, 1853
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 765.
- ISBN 0-19-504652-8.
- Garland, Lynda (1999). Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium, AD 527–1204. London & New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-14688-3.
- Mitchell, Linda Elizabeth (2004). "Women Where They Ought Not to Be? Revising the View of the Medieval World". Journal of Women's History. 16 (1): 183–189. S2CID 144044065.
- Norwich, John Julius (1993), Byzantium: The Apogee, London: Penguin, ISBN 978-0-14-011448-5
- Treadgold, Warren T. (1997), A History of the Byzantine State and Society, ISBN 978-0-8047-2630-6