Theodora Doukaina Selvo

Teodora Anna Dukaina Selvo (Greek: Θεοδώρα Άννα Δούκαινα, born Theodora Dukaina Komnena 1058-1083) was a Byzantine princess, the daughter of emperor Constantine X Dukas and his second wife Eudokia Makrembolitissa. She became the wife of Domenico Selvo, Doge of Venice from 1075 until her death in 1083.

Teodora was married to Domenico Selvo in Constantinople (1075) with full Imperial pageantry, and crowned with the Imperial diadem by her brother, Michael VII Doukas. Teodora brought a large Greek retinue to Venice, and rendered herself extremely unpopular because of her aristocratic bearing and haughty manner. Her Byzantine extravagance included the use of a fork, finger bowls, napkins, and sconce candles. She died of a degenerative illness, which was seen by the Venetians as a divine judgment for her immoderate lifestyle. There is an account of her lavish manners written by Peter Damian, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, entitled "Of the Venetian Doge's wife, whose body, after her excessive delicacy, entirely rotted away."

References

• Henisch, Bridget Ann (1976), Fast and Feast: Food in Medieval Society ISBN 0-271-01230-7
• Staley, Edgcumbe (c1910), The Dogaressas of Venice