The Empress Theodora: Partner of Justinian

Description

Even by modern standards, the Empress Theodora had a remarkable rise to power. Born into the lowest class of Byzantine society, she worked as an actress in burlesque theatre. Yet she attracted the love of the future emperor Justinian, who, to the astonishment of proper society, made her not only his wife but also his partner in government. Justinian's respect for and trust in Theodora gave her power in her own right unmatched by almost any other Roman or Byzantine empress. In this book, James Allan Evans provides an account of the life and times of the Empress Theodora. He follows her from her childhood as a Hippodrome bearkeeper's daughter to her imperial roles as Justinian's most trusted counsellor and as an effective and powerful advocate for the downtrodden. In particular, he focuses on the ways in which Theodora worked to improve the lives of women. He also explores the pivotal role Theodora played in the great religious controversy of her time, involving a breach between sects in the Christian church. Contents Preface Introduction Chapter 1: A New Dynasty Takes Power Chapter 2: The Early Life of Theodora Chapter 3: The Early Years in Power Chapter 4: The Nika Revolt Chapter 5: Theodora’s Friends and Enemies Chapter 6: Theodora and Foreign Policy Chapter 7: The Theological Dilemma: The Search for Common Ground Chapter 8: Theodora’s Quest for a New Strategy Chapter 9: The Coercion of Rome Chapter 10: Afterword Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index