Theodora (senatrix)

Theodora (circa 870 – 916) was a senatrix and serenissima vestaratrix of Rome, mother of Marozia, alleged concubine to Pope Sergius III.

Theodora was a grandmother of Pope John XI, a son of Marozia and—according to Liutprand of Cremona and the Liber Pontificalis—Pope Sergius III. A third contemporary source, however—the annalist Flodoard (c. 894-966)—says John XI was brother of Count Alberic II of Spoleto, the latter being the offspring of Marozia and her husband Count Alberic I of Spoleto. Hence John too was probably the son of Marozia and Alberic I.

Theodora was characterized by the aforementioned Liutprand as a "shameless whore ... [who] exercised power on the Roman citizenry like a man." This bishop of Cremona was described by the Catholic Encyclopedia as frequently being unfair to his adversaries and could be partial in his judgments.

Bibliography

• E. Dümmler, Auxilius u. Vulgarius. Quellen und Forschungen zur Geschichte des Papsttums im Anfange des zehnten Jahrhunderts, Leipzig 1866, pp. 12-26;
• P. Fedele, Ricerche per la storia di Roma e del papato al secolo X, in "Archivio della Società Romana di Storia Patria", 33, 1910, pp. 177-247; 34, 1911, pp. 75-115 e 393-423;
• L. Duchesne, Serge III. et Jean XI., in "Mélanges d'archéologie et d'histoire", 33 (1913), pp. 25-64
• Ferdinand Gregorovius, Storia di Roma nel medioevo, New Compton Editori Srl, Roma 1972
• Lexikon des Mittelalters, München 2002
• Daniela Schumacher-Immel (1996). Bautz, Traugott. ed (in German). Theodora, die Ältere. Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). 11. Herzberg. cols. 919–920. ISBN 3-88309-064-6. http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/t/theodora_d_ae.shtml. 

References

• The Catholic Encyclopedia entry on Liutprand of Cremona