She was of humble origins and became empress when her husband became emperor in 527 Theodora was born into the lowest class of byzantine society, the daughter of a bearkeeper for the circus. Theodora was one of his chief political advisers.
She used her power and influence to promote religious and social policies that were important to her. She was the wife of emperor justinian the great Theodora reigned as empress of the byzantine empire alongside her husband, emperor justinian i, from 527 ce until her death in 548 ce.
The history of theodora is a classic rags to riches tale, as she is thought to have started life in the lowest class of byzantine society but became one of the most powerful women in civilization’s history. Empress and emperor appear at the center of each scene, larger than the other figures to show their importance, bedecked in imperial purple, and sporting lavish crowns framed by golden haloes Empress theodora and emperor justinian i were a formidable couple who shaped the byzantine empire’s most celebrated era Theodora’s strong commitment to her beliefs and political skills made her one of the most influential empresses of the byzantine empire
Her husband, emperor justinian i, treated her as an equal partner, a rare occurrence in history, especially in the first century.
