Theodora (circa 500 – 548) was a woman of modest origin, dancer and courtesan, who became Empress of the Byzantine Empire and wife of Justinian.
The Emperor's Wife
Theodora's life is best known from the works of her contemporaries Procopius of Caesarea, and John of Ephesus.
An illegitimate daughter, Theodora was born around 500, according to sources in Constantinople, Paphlagonia (Asia Minor) or Cyprus. She lost her father at a very young age and her family, made up of her mother and her two sisters, found themselves destitute. To get by, their mother makes her daughters into strippers and courtesans. Theodora ends up becoming the mistress of a senior Syrian official.
To promote her social ascent, Théodora trained, learned to read and write, and educated herself. In Constantinople, she meets Macedonia, a seer who informs Justinian, future emperor and nephew of Emperor Justin I st , seventeen years his senior. The two become lovers and Justinien obtains from his uncle the repeal of a law prohibiting senators from marrying courtesans. They married in 523. Theodora then already had a daughter; the couple will have no other children. In 527, when her husband became emperor, she also became fully empress.
Protection of courtesans
Energetic and courageous, she often advised her husband, particularly in matters of religion. She intervenes in particular a lot to make Justinien take measures protecting prostitutes, courtesans and actresses. She herself ransomed prostitutes, founded a house for "repentant sinners" and influenced the measures concerning women in the Justinian Code, such as the reduction of the penalty for adultery.
Theodora died in 548, possibly of breast cancer. Several plays, films and novels tell his story.