Theodora Porphyrogenita

Theodora Porphyrogenita
Empress and Autocratess of the Romans
Depiction of Theodora Porphyrogenita on the Monomachos Crown.
Byzantine empress regnant
1st reign21 April 1042 – 11 June 1042[1]
PredecessorMichael V
SuccessorConstantine IX
Co-monarchZoe[1]
2nd reign11 January 1055 –
31 August 1056[1]
PredecessorConstantine IX
SuccessorMichael VI
Byzantine co-empress
Reign1042–1055
EmperorConstantine IX (1042–1055)
Bornc. 980
Constantinople
Died31 August 1056 (aged 76)
Constantinople
Burial
DynastyMacedonian
FatherConstantine VIII
MotherHelena

Theodora Porphyrogenita[a] (Greek: Θεοδώρα Πορφυρογέννητη, romanizedTheodṓra 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.

  1. ^ a b c Warwick William Wroth (1908). Catalogue of the Imperial Byzantine Coins in the British Museum. Vol. 1. Рипол Классик. p. 682. 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).
  2. ^ Marciniak, Przemysław; Nilsson, Ingela (2020). Satire in the Middle Byzantine Period: The Golden Age of Laughter?. Brill. p. 386. ISBN 978-90-04-44256-6.
  3. ^ Boyett, Colleen; Tarver, H. Micheal; Gleason, Mildred Diane (2020). Daily Life of Women: An Encyclopedia from Ancient Times to the Present [3 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 307. ISBN 978-1-4408-4693-9.


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