Theodora ( Greek Θεοδώρα - Gift of God ; 984 , Constantinople - August 31, 1056 , Constantinople ) - daughter of Emperor Constantine VIII , ruling Byzantine empress from January 8, 1055 to August 31, 1056 .
| Theodora | |||||||
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| Greek Θεοδώρα | |||||||
 Enamel miniature of the crown of Konstantin Monomakh | |||||||
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| Predecessor | Constantine IX Monomakh | ||||||
| Successor | Michael VI Stratiotik | ||||||
| Birth | 984 Constantinople | ||||||
| Death | August 31, 1056 Constantinople | ||||||
| Burial place | |||||||
| Kind | Macedonian | ||||||
| Father | Constantine VIII | ||||||
| Mother | Elena Alipina | ||||||
Content
Biography
Theodora was the third daughter of Emperor Constantine VIII and his wife Elena Alipina . Born in 984, her early biography is unknown.
In 1028 , during a near-death illness, Constantine VIII in search of a successor decided to marry at least one of his daughters. Theodora, the youngest daughter, refused a marriage caused by dynastic considerations [1] , and the choice of her father fell on Zoya , who at that time was already 50 years old. Zoe became the wife of Roman III Argyr . After the death of her father, which followed 3 days after Zoe’s marriage, Theodora was proclaimed co-ruler of her older sister Zoe and her husband Roman III. But already in 1030 , Zoya expressed her anger at Theodore for the fact that her husband completely surrendered to the affairs of managing the empire, removing his spouse from himself [2] and limiting the costs of its maintenance [3] . Theodora was tonsured as a monk in the Petri Monastery [4] . Zoya was personally present at the ceremony and calmed down only when she saw her sister in monastic clothes [5] .
In April 1042, during a popular uprising caused by the deposition of Zoe by Emperor Michael V Calafate and her tonsure, Theodora was brought by the rebels from the monastery to the capital. She was dressed in royal clothes, and in the Hagia Sophia, Patriarch Alexy Studit proclaimed her empress [6] . After the blinding of Michael V, the assembled synclite could not decide which of the sisters to transfer power. Many of his members were inclined to the candidacy of Zoe, seeing in her the inviolability of the existing regime [7] . Other special works dedicated specifically to Zoe are absent [8] . As a result, Zoya, under pressure from the people, agreed to share power with Theodora [9] . On April 21, 1042, the sisters were proclaimed co-rulers [8] .
She agreed with her sister about royal power, invited her, accompanied by a solemn procession to her, and made her co-ruler. Theodora, still trembling before her sister, recognized her seniority and ceded her primacy, in order to reign with Zoya and obey her [10] .
( histamenon , 1042)
The reign of Zoe and Theodora is the second and last case in Byzantine history when a woman ruled the empire autocratically [11] . The sisters began their reign with the removal from government posts of all the proteges of Michael V and the appointment of loyal people to their places. At the ceremonies, the co-rulers sat next to one throne and, if necessary, " gave orders or answered questions in a calm voice, sometimes following the instructions of knowledgeable people, sometimes according to their own understanding " [12] . The sisters issued decrees against the sale of posts, made changes to the military-administrative and civilian management systems, and a special tribunal was created to investigate the abuses of Mikhail V and his officials [13] .
| Two half-hearted despots - Mrs. Zoya and Mrs. Theodora - ruled autocratically for 50 days [14] . |
Theodora was the exact opposite of her sister, who was spending the treasury. She “ locked herself in her chambers and alone sealed the stream of gold flowing towards her ” [15] The joint rule of the sisters was ineffective and on June 11, 1042, the 64-year-old Zoya married Konstantin Monomakh , who was proclaimed emperor. Theodora continued to be co-ruler.
After the death of Zoe in 1050 and Constantine IX in 1055, Theodore reigned for a short time alone. This was preceded by a period of unrest, when part of the aristocracy wanted to enthrone the governor of Bulgaria, Nicephorus, but Theodora was able to maintain power in her hands [16] . Theodora refused to marry and before her death she chose to be the successors of Michael VI Stratiotik [16] . Died on August 31, 1056 . Theodora was the last representative of the Macedonian dynasty on the Byzantine throne.
Notes
- ↑ Theodora's refusal is reported by Skylitz and Zonar
- ↑ Dil C. Byzantine portraits. - S. 168.
- ↑ Norwich D. History of Byzantium. - M .: AST, 2010 .-- S. 309.
- ↑ John of the Skylitz. Review of History, 385.
- ↑ Velichko A.M. History of the Byzantine emperors. - M. , 2010. - T. 4. - S. 344. - ISBN 978-5-91399-019-8 .
- ↑ Dil C. Byzantine portraits. - S. 177.
- ↑ Litavrin G. G. The uprising in Constantinople in April 1042 // Byzantine time-book . - 1972.- T. 33 . - S. 33–46 .
- ↑ 1 2 Garland, L. Zoe Porphyrogenita (wife of Romanus III, Constantine IX, and Michael IV) // Byzantine Empresses. Women and Power in Byzantium, AD 527-1204 . - London, 1999.
- ↑ John of the Skylitz. Review of History, 420.
- ↑ Michael Psell. Chronography 5.LI.
- ↑ Vasiliev A.A. The era of the Macedonian dynasty (867-1081) . History of the Byzantine Empire . Date of treatment October 11, 2011. Archived January 22, 2012.
- ↑ Michael Psell. Chronography 6.III.
- ↑ Norwich D. History of Byzantium. - M .: AST, 2010 .-- S. 321.
- ↑ Schreiner P. Chronicle 14. About the years from the creation of the world and about the kings from the beginning who ruled in the Roman Empire // Die byzantinischen Kleinchroniken. - Wien, 1975.
- ↑ Michael Psell. Chronography 6.LXIV.
- ↑ 1 2 Zoya and Theodora Porphyrogenites // Dashkov S. B. Emperors of Byzantium. M .: Publishing house "Red Square", "APS-books", 1996
Literature
- Michael Psell . Chronography - M .: Science , 1978.
- Velichko A.M. History of Byzantine emperors. - M. , 2010 .-- T. 4. - 800 p. - ISBN 978-5-91399-019-8 .
- Dashkov S. B. The Emperors of Byzantium. - M .: Red Square Publishing House, APS Books, 1996.
- Diel C. Byzantine portraits. - M .: Art, 1994.
- Norwich D. History of Byzantium. - M .: AST, 2010.
Links
- Theodora // Ryzhkov K. All the monarchs of the world. Ancient Greece. Ancient Rome. Byzantium.