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Theodora c.500-548
Byzantine empress

The wife of Justinian I, she was the daughter of a circus bear-tamer. An actress, she married Justinian in 525 and was empress from 527. As his most trusted counsellor she had enormous influence over government, and probably saved the throne during the Nika riots (532). She was very charitable, especially to women. There is a famous mosaic portrait of her in the Church of San Vitale, Ravenna.

Bibliography: Charles Diehl, Theodora: Empress of Byzantium (1972)