Theodora

The wife of the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I (reigned 527-565). Her father was a beastmaster of the "Green Troupe" of Constantinople. She became an actress and toured Egypt and Syria for several years before returning to the capital and meeting Justinian. Justinian persuaded his uncle, Emperor Justin, to revoke the ban on marriage between senators and actresses, and promoted Theodora to nobility, leading to her marriage to Justinian in 525. In April 527, he and his uncle became co-emperors, and Theodora was awarded the title of Augusta. In 532, when the Nika Revolt broke out due to popular discontent, she took a firm stance and persuaded her husband, who was considering fleeing, to change his mind. She wielded considerable influence over the personnel affairs of bishops, civil servants, and military officials, and in religious policy, she opposed her husband and supported Monophysitism, donating large sums to churches, monasteries, and charitable institutions. Theodora was a woman of great stature, and was the subject of numerous courtiers, including the monarch, the monk, and the priest.

[Atsuko Goto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

東ローマ皇帝ユスティニアヌス1世（在位527～565）の妃。コンスタンティノープルの競技団体「緑組」の獣番を父とし、女優となって数年間エジプト、シリアなどを巡業したのち首都に戻り、ユスティニアヌスと知り合う。ユスティニアヌスが伯父ユスティヌス帝を動かして元老院議員と女優との通婚禁止令を無効とさせ、またテオドラを貴族身分に昇格させたことにより、525年彼女はユスティニアヌスと結婚。527年4月彼が伯父帝と共治帝となり、テオドラはアウグスタ位を授与された。532年民衆の不満に端を発した「ニカの反乱」に際しては、彼女は断固たる態度をみせ、逃亡を考える夫を翻意させた。司教や文官、武官の人事に少なからぬ影響力を振るい、宗教政策では夫に抗して単性説を支持し、教会、修道院や慈善施設に多額の寄付をした。単性説派の史料はテオドラを称揚しているが、歴史家プロコピオスは『秘史』で彼女の素性の卑しさや強欲を悪意と偏見に満ちた筆で誹謗(ひぼう)している。北イタリアのラベンナのサン・ビターレ聖堂に残るモザイク肖像画は有名。

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