3. Empress Theodora (c. 500-June 28, 548 CE)
For a woman who eventually became the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire, Theodora began her life from the humblest beginnings. While there is some dispute on her early life, most sources agree that she was an actress and a prostitute (the two were interchangeable in the Byzantine empire). Known for her charm and charisma, she had attached herself to wealthy men of influence before renouncing her lifestyle and settling down in Constantinople.
Even though she wasn’t an actress anymore, her beauty and wit had earned her a reputation, capturing the attention of one of the most influential men in the empire: the heir to the Byzantine throne, Justinian. By 522 CE, Justinian was madly in love with Theodora and wanted to marry her. One small problem: he couldn’t. Byzantine law made it illegal for actresses to marry men in the public eye, probably because of their fluidity into the world of prostitution. This was particularly true for the Emperor’s nephew and the heir to the throne.
Justinian’s uncle, Justin I, was the reigning Byzantine emperor, and his wife, Empress Euphemia, was extremely against the marriage, even though she was extremely fond of Justinian. After the Empress died, Justinian was so enamored with Theodora and her charms that he convinced his uncle to change the law so that he could marry Theodora. Justin I was fond of her, so he repealed the law, and Justinian and Theodora were married. When Justinian became emperor in 527 CE, Theodora became Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Not bad for a former prostitute.
If Theodora used her sex appeal as a weapon to attain power, she used her powers for good. Justinian trusted her counsel above all others, and she even saved his throne during the Nika riots in 532. There were two political factions in the empire, and when one of them rioted against the royal family, Theodora convinced everyone, including her husband, to stay and put down the rebellion. Their army defeated the demonstrators and Justinian never forgot that Theodora saved his life and his throne.
After the Nika riots, Justinian and Theodora rebuilt Constantinople into one of the most beautiful cities in the world, including the famous Hagia Sophia, which still stands to this day. Theodora helped pass protections for prostitutes, women, and children, helping protect them from being forced into that life. Even though Justinian and Theodora didn’t agree on religious reforms during her lifetime, after she died from what was probably cancer in 548, he honored her by bringing religious harmony to the Byzantine Empire.