Theodora Porphyrogenita
Theodora ([Θεοδώρα, Theodōra] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help), 984 – early September, 1056) was a Byzantine Empress. She was co-empress from 1042 and from January 11, 1055 to after August 31, 1056 actively ruled the Eastern Roman Empire or, the Roman Empire of the Middle Ages that often is described as the Byzantine Empire. She was born into the Macedonian dynasty that ruled the empire for almost two hundred years, and would become its last monarch.
She was the daughter of Constantine VIII and Helena, daughter of Alypius. Possessed of a strong and austere character, Theodora refused the hand of the heir-presumptive, Romanos Argyros, who then was married to her sister, Zoe, instead in 1028.
Although living in retirement Theodora excited Zoe's jealousy and, on a pretext of a conspiracy with Presian of Bulgaria, she was confined in a monastery.
In April 19, 1042, the popular movement which caused the dethronement of Michael V also led to Theodora's installment as the active co-empress with her sister. After two months of active participation in government alongside her sister, she allowed herself, virtually, to be superseded by Zoe's new husband, Constantine IX Monomachos, on June 11, 1042. Nevertheless, Theodora was considered as an empress alongside her sister and brother-in-law throughout their reign. Her sister predeceased her.
Upon the death of Constantine IX on January 11, 1055 and in spite of her seventy years of age, Theodora vigorously reasserted her dormant rights to rule and frustrated an attempt to supersede her on behalf of the general, Nikephoros Proteuon, governor of Bulgaria.
By her firm administration she controlled the unruly nobles and checked numerous abuses; but she marred her reputation by excessive severity toward private enemies and the undue employment of menials for advisers, including her influential minister Leo Paraspondylos. Leo's faction was interested in maintaining its control of government through the aging empress, while the patriarch Michael Keroularios advocated that Theodora advance a subject to the throne through marriage to her, something which would have assured the succession. This was not accomplished.
Theodora became gravely ill on August 31, 1056 and died a few days later, in early September. Having no children and being the last member of her dynasty, she had chosen one of her favorites, the former military minister, Michael VI Bringas, as her successor on the recommendation of Leo.
Michael VI was not related to the great Macedonian dynasty that had ruled the Byzantine Empire for a period of 189 years, however, and did not receive universal support. This lack of support resulted in a series of conflicts for the throne among various noble families, that lasted from 1056 until 1081.
References
- The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Oxford University Press, 1991.