The resolute Queen Theodora
Queen Theodora was a famous female leader in Western history. Cleopatra, cleopatra, who appeared earlier than Theodora, was also a powerful woman, but she lacked domineering, did not have the courage to compete with Caesar, Antony, Augustus and others, but instead attached herself to men like a bird. Looking back at Theodora's life, she was more active in politics as an independent figure, and even influenced the direction of the Eastern Roman Empire with a strong personal will.
<h1 align="left" >, Theodora's early years</h1>
Theodora was born into an ordinary family in Constantinople, the capital of the Empire. Her father was of Cypriot Greek descent and her mother was a typical Oriental beauty. The Greek meaning of Theodora's name is "gift from God," and her parents regarded her as a jewel in their hands from the beginning. Although not from a noble birth, the younger Theodora relied on her beautiful face to gradually approach the power center of the Empire.
A Roman girl in a film and television drama
Di's mother was a well-known stage actor. Procopius records in The Secret History that Theodora followed his mother in burlesque and slightly obscene comedies. He himself satirized Theodora, who was already on the throne at the time, and "all kinds of talents seem to be reflected in low-level body drama performances."
This proves from the side that under the rule of the Roman Empire, female performers who acted as a tool for men's entertainment at the bottom of society had a low social status. But it was precisely this adversity that exercised Theodora's determined, autonomous character. The Secret History also introduces the story of Theodora's youth. She gained fame by performing plays and was even admired by a number of Roman officials. In her early years, she became the mistress of Theberus, governor of Pantapoles, and secretly bore him a son.
Theodora with seductive eyes
Yuan Shikai lived in a house of youling when he was in decline, and after his death, he married the old friend, and Justinian and Theodora's fate was the same. Justinian, who was only a military commander at the time, met Theodora at the recommendation of a friend, and Di Shi, who was already in the upper social circles of the empire, only paid close attention to Cha. Probably the hero and the beauty, Cha maintained a secret relationship with Theodora until his marriage to him in 523, when the relationship between the two was made public.
Extravagant banquets of the upper Romans
<h1 align="left" > second, nika riots</h1>
Although the young Di Shi was once looked down upon, Christianity accepted her. Dicks joined the Phica-Cloisters christianity at an early age, a sect that had a close relationship with the widely spread unitarian school of Christ. Christianity attaches great importance to the sinful nature of human beings, but if a person is to truly repent of his sins, he can be forgiven no matter what. Theodora's association with Christianity, and her later union with Justinian, was like a redemption and turning point in life.
Soon after their marriage, Cha sat on the emperor's throne, and Theodora became a commoner empress. Theodora had such an influence on Justinian that she was eventually able to sit on an equal footing with The Chash and was regarded as the "Empress" of the Empire. Why does Cha shi trust and favor her so much? It all started with a riot in the imperial capital.
Justinian
In Constantinople, an Olympic-like car race is held every other year. The Emperor and the Chancellor can support different teams in this race and hire people they trust to handle the equipment. In the game, the emperor and the ministers can raise the flag for the team of their choice, and the ministers do not have to consider whether to "anger the dragon face". As a result, there are often some aristocratic spectators who are "no big and no small" in the game. Either inadvertently, or deliberately forming gangs and even isolating the emperor.
Speeding chariots and excited drivers
Depending on the color of the flag chosen by the driver, the blue party and the green party were formed. These people conspire off the field, using power and money to control the outcome of the game, and the halls they use to negotiate even become "civil cabinets". During the day, the two parties often insulted and argued with each other, and even participated in murders at night. At its peak, bipartisan congregations often blocked the streets near the Hippodrome in Constantinople, with a great impact on peace and order in the capital.
Because Justinian's vigorous reforms offended the interests of the dignitaries of the two parties, they united to openly provoke the emperor. During a racing competition in January 532, the two parties jointly launched a declaration against the emperor's imprisonment of his ministers, and raised the slogan "Nika" (in Greek for victory). Seeing that things were getting more and more stalemate, Justinian was deeply frightened. The Blue-Greens took the opportunity to set fire to buildings throughout the capital, and the empire was in turmoil, and the situation was once uncontrollable.
A chaotic Roman city
Seeing that these stubborn party members had become a climate, Justinian chose to compromise further, trying to apologize to the leader of the riot and be ready to abandon the city and flee. Cha Shi, who usually looks mighty and serious, is so weak at a critical moment, which is really surprising. Fortunately, when Theodora came forward in time and the whole country was chaotic, the queen still appeared in the streets of the riot with a pearlescent and leisurely look, showing her composure and dignity to everyone.
At the same time, the Empress ordered the eunuch chief Narsses to leave the palace with a large amount of cash and go deep into the Blue Party's residential area to bribe his bandits. She recalled the general Belisarius, who had just returned from the front, and ordered him to slaughter those who resisted the imperial power without hesitation. Beth led the infantry through the main entrance of the arena, while the archers ascended the dark staircase to the path behind the auditorium and fired arrows at the crowd in the arena. Theodora did have some more courage and determination in the face of a crisis of domination. And this kind of courage was the key to her being deeply trusted and admired by the emperor.
The Emperor and Empress succeeded in suppressing the rebellion
<h1 align="left" > third, Theodora's other influences on state politics</h1>
Theodora was the driving force behind Justinian's restoration of the "Greater Rome" and a staunch supporter. At her instigation, the Cha clan gradually began to revise the laws covering the entire territory of the empire, and constantly straightened out the military and straightened out internal affairs, in order to recover the western Mediterranean world occupied by barbarians. Theodora came from the bottom, and she understood the suffering of ordinary people better. Under her leadership, the entire imperial palace will also hold regular almsgiving activities to maintain the image of the royal family. It is said that she herself adopted many disabled animals in the palace.
The mighty Theodora and Justinian
Her most charismatic act is the introduction of a series of legislative activities to protect women's rights. Theodora encouraged the emperor to amend the law and break the Christian ban on not allowing women to have abortions. In addition, she also actively introduced her former "sisters" to the dignitaries, and hoped that the royal family would pay more attention to the women at the bottom. This was incredible in the circumstances! What is even more surprising is that Theodora may also be the first woman in world history to propose that women also have the right to openly support "male pets"!
In addition, she established a shelter for prostitutes and a shelter for the elderly. These institutions are considered to have set an example and a model for the cause of social relief in medieval Europe. She had also adopted legislation prohibiting forced prostitution and the illegal sale of children. She made a special contribution to the development of the Roman Empire from an independent perspective unique to women.
Theodora is portrayed in the image of the Virgin Mary
<h1 align="left" > Wen Shijun said</h1>
Theodora died of an unknown cancer in 548. Her courage and fortitude had a huge impact on Justinian, and after her death, Justinian fell into a long period of silence and sorrow, and even ignored the government several times. According to some who hated her, she had built a private dungeon in her mansion where political dissidents and her were imprisoned. Her image became increasingly "witched" after her death, and there were even rumors that she often "ate human flesh" to maintain her appearance. Theodora's thought was in any case ahead of its time in the society of the time, and it was impossible for her not to suffer from the criticism and prejudice of the people of the time. After her death, her body was buried in the most magnificent church in Constantinople, but the legend about her will remain in people's hearts forever.
< h1 align="left" > resources</h1>
Edward Gibbon: A History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Gilling Press, 2008.
Zhao Ruijie, "On the Influence of Theodora on the Policy of justinian Era", Master's Thesis of Northeast Normal University, 2008.
(Author: Haoran Wenshi Porcelain Country Garbage Dump)
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