IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Stankovic Vlada Μετάφραση : Κούτρας Νικόλαος Για παραπομπή : Stankovic Vlada , "Theodora (Empress, 842-855)", Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία URL:

Περίληψη : Empress Theodora holds an important place in 9th-C. Byzantine history. When in 842 she came to power as the head of the regency council of her son Michael III (who was then only 2 years old), Theodora had to deal, already in the first year of her reign, with the issue of Iconoclasm. She put an end to the iconoclastic dispute by affirming the restoration of the , an act which led to her canonization by the Orthodox Church. Άλλα Ονόματα Augusta Theodora, St. Theodora Τόπος και Χρόνος Γέννησης 815, Ebissa, Paphlagonia Τόπος και Χρόνος Θανάτου after 867, , Gastria monastery Κύρια Ιδιότητα Empress (842-855)

1. Birth - family

Theodora originated from an eminent family of Minor. She was born in 815 in the village Ebissa of Paphlagonia.1 The location of the place-name remains uncertain. Her father, Marinos, of Armenian descent, was drougarios or tourmarch, while her mother (aka Phlorina) was the first to receive the honorary title of patrikia zoste. Both of them were iconophiles, and had been persecuted for their beliefs.

Her two brothers, and , later received high offices, the former in the state administration, and the latter in the army. Petronas was commander of the army that defeated the in the 863 battle at Poson, by the river Lalakaon, a victory which heralded the gradual re-capturing of Asia Minor by the Byzantines. Bardas rose through the ranks in Constantinople, and under Michael III's (his nephew) reign, he received the honorary title of .

Theodora also had three sisters: Kalomaria, Sophia and Eirene. Eirene or Kalomaria probably married the brother of Photios’ mother. In this manner Empress Theodora became a relative of the future patriarch (858-867, 877-887).

From her marriage to Emperor , Theodora had five daughters, Thekla, Anna, Anastasia, Poulcheria and Maria, and two sons, Constantine, who died during childhood, and Michael, the future emperor Michael III (842-867).

2. Education - upbringing

All that we know of Theodora’s education mainly pertains to her iconophile beliefs, which she maintained even after the marriage to Emperor Theophilos. No other information has survived.

3. Theodora’s activites during Theophilos’reign

As soon as emperor Theophilos ascended to the throne, on October 2nd 829, Theodora was sent to Constantinople to participate in the process through which the imperial bride was to be selected. Thanks to her beauty and intelligence, Theodora was the one selected among all the other girls to become the emperor’s wife by a joint decision of Theophilos and his step-mother , second wife of Michael II Traulos. The imperial couple was married on June 30th 830,2 and after a short period empress Euphrosyne was driven out of the palace, and thus the young Theodora became the prime augusta.

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In the following twenty-two years, throughout Theophilos’reign, Empress Theodora was not involved in politics. It is known, however, that the Empress developed an interest in trade and that she owned or rented merchant ships. An episode has been preserved from the time of Theophilos’reign, who was remembered as a just ruler. The emperor, seeing a ship sailing into the Golden Horn inlet, loaded with expensive merchandise became curious and wanted to know the identity of the merchant that possessed such wealth. When he was informed that it was his spouse he ordered the shipment to be burned, and forbade the empress to continue her mercantile activities, deeming them unfit for a woman donning the imperial purple.

4. Regency

4.1. Internal policy

After Theophilos’death on January 20th 842, Theodora and her oldest daughter Thekla assumed the regency of her son Michael, who was then only two years old (he was born on the 9th or 10th of January 840). Thus Theodora became in fact supreme ruler, remaining in power until 856. Her main aide was the , who received the offices of the epi tou kanikleiou and . His influence on Theodora was great, and his views counted the most when a decision was to be taken. He gradually managed to accumulate all political power in his hands.

The first years of Theodora’s regency became identified with the final end of the iconoclastic dispute. The patriarch of Constantinople John VII Grammatikos Morocharzanios (837-843) was replaced by an iconophile monk championed by Theodora, Methodios (843-847), who had been persecuted during the period of iconoclasm. Methodios’election made Theodora’s intentions to reverse Theophilos’iconoclastic policy clear to all. Nonetheless, Theodora did not ratify the restoration of the icons before she made certain that her late husband Theophilos, who while in life constantly rebuked his wife’s iconophile beliefs, would not be excommunicated after death.3 The restoration of the icons was finally ratified on March 11th 843. To commemorate this act, hailed as a victory of orthodoxy over what it denounced as ‘imperial heresy’, the Church established the feast of Sunday of Orthodoxy, celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent.

Nonetheless, the empresses' policy did not fully satisfy the monastic circles. Some prominent monks (especially those of the Stoudion monastery in Constantinople) considered Theodora’s and Theoktistos’stance vis-à-vis the iconoclasts over-temperate and confronted the patriarch, but Theodora managed to defend Methodios effectively in that feud. Notwithstanding this feud, the restoration of the icons secured the ecclesiastical posthumous fame not only of Empress Theodora and patriarch Methodios, but also of the logothetes Theoktistos, who in the Synaxarion of the Constantinopolitan Church is also commemorated as a saint. In the same council that decided the restoration of the icons, Theodora recalled from exile a whole host of iconophiles, clerics and lay people alike.

Theodora also commanded the extermination of those Paulicians that refused to follow her behest and disown their heretical religious beliefs (843-844). She also continued her interventionist ecclesiastical policy. Following Methodios’death in 847, with an arbitrary decision the empress appointed the monk Ignatios as the new patriarch of Constantinople; Ignatios was the son of the former emperor (811-813), who following his father’s death had been castrated and forced into becoming a monk.

4.2. External policy

During her regency, Theodora had to contend with the Bulgarian threat. According to Genesios, Theophanes’continuator, and Symeon Magistros, after ascending to the throne Theodora received in Constantinople the envoys of the Bulgarian ruler Boris (852- 889), who informed her that he intended to dissolve the treaties that had been agreed between Byzantines and Bulgarians and to wage a campaign against Byzantium. Theodora’s steadfast resolve finally made Boris to cancel his plans of attack against the empire and renew his peace treaty with the Byzantines.

5. Downfall

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Theodora’s and logethetes Theoktistos’administration caused the animosity of her brothers, primarily of Bardas, who felt he had been pushed aside and was very disgruntled with his sister’s preference for Theoktistos. Bardas managed to place the underage, but not so young anymore, Emperor Michael III under his influence. On November 20, 855 carrying out a premeditated plan, they murdered logothetes Theoktistos, who was proclaimed a martyr and saint of the Constantinople Church.4 Soon after, on March 15th 856, Theodora was removed from the throne. Thus ended the period of Theodora’s joint rule with her son, Michael III; Bardas was now in control, and Michael III conferred upon him the title of caesar.

In 858 Theodora was forced to retire to the monastery of Gastria, in the southern part of Constantinople, which was apparently constructed by her mother. Following her forced retirement from court and political life, Empress Theodora is only mentioned in a half-mythical episode, which perhaps suggests her return to the palace. This is a story relating some prophecy of Theodora that the protostator Basil, the future emperor , which was presented to her by Michael III, will be responsible for the extinction of their dynasty. Charmed by the power of Basil, Michael III following their common plan, arranged in 866 the murder of his uncle Bardas; Basil, however, murdered Michael on September 24th 867 becoming the sole ruler. In this way the supposed "prophecy" of the empress was fulfilled.

Theodora’s precise date of death is not known. She passed away soon after the murder of her son and Basil's accession to the throne; she was buried at the monastery of Gastria, which became something like a family resting place: her daughter Thekla, Anastasia and were also buried there, as well as her brother Petronas, her mother Theoktiste and Barda’s daughter Eirene.5

Because of her part in the final settling of the iconoclastic dispute and the restoration of the icons, Empress Theodora was proclaimed a saint and the Church celebrates her memory on February 11th. Perhaps already by the period of Leo VI (886-912), there was a Vita composed by an anonymous author;6 this work was largely concerned with her actions against the iconoclasts. The Byzantine chroniclers attributed to Empress Theodora a prophecy concerning the destruction of the Amorion dynasty and the ascendancy of Basil I and of the .

1. This village is mentioned as Abysianon in Genesios (Lesmiiller‑Werner, A. ‑ Thurn, Ι. (ed.), Iosephi Genesii, Regum Libri Quattuor, (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 14, Berlin‑New York 1978), IV, 15.47.

2. Brooks, E.W. “The Marriage of the Emperor Theophilus”, Byzantinische Zeitschrift 10 (1901), pp. 540‑545. Cf. Treadgold, W. T., “The Problem of the Marriage of the Emperor Theophilus:”, in Greek Roman and 16 (1975), pp. 325‑341.

3. S.v. “Theodora (wife of Theophilos)”, Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium III, p. 2037.

4. His memory was celebrated on the 20th of November; Delehaye, Η. (ed.), Synaxarium Ecclesiae constantinopolitanae (Bruxelles 1902).

5. Grierson, P., “The Tombs and Obits of the Byzantine Emperors (337‑1042) (With an Additional Note by C. Mango and I. Sevcenko)”, Dumbarton Oaks Papers 16 (1962), p. 57.

6. See Halkin, Fr., Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca (SubsHag 8a), vols. 1‑ 3 (Bruxelles 1957), no. 1731. On the edition of the text see Μαρκόπουλου, Α. (ed.), “Βίος της αυτοκράτειρας Θεοδώρας (BHG 1731)”, Σύμμεικτα 5 (1983), pp. 249‑285.

Βιβλιογραφία : Charanis P., The Armenians in the , Lisbon 1963

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Janin R., La géographie ecclésiastique de l’empire byzantin, Ι. Le Siège de Constantinople et le Patriarcat Oecuménique 3: Les églises et les monastères, 2, Paris 1969

Bury J.B., Α History of the Eastern from the Fall of Irene to the Accession of Basil I (A.D. 802-867), London 1912

Hendy M.F., Studies in the Βyzantine Μonetary Εconomy c. 300-1450, Cambridge Mass. 1985

Χριστοφιλοπούλου Α., Βυζαντινή Ιστορία 2.2, Θεσσαλονίκη 1997

Χριστοφιλοπούλου Α., Βυζαντινή ιστορία, 1, Θεσσαλονίκη 1992

Lemerle P., "L΄histoire des Pauliciens d’Asie Mineure d’après les sources grecques", Travaux et Mémoires, 5, 1973, 1-144

Treadgold W.T., The Byzantine Revival 780-842, Stanford – California 1988

Ευστρατιάδης Σ., Αγιολόγιον της Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας, Αθήνα 1960

Grierson P., Byzantine Coins, London – Berkeley – Los Angeles 1982

J. Herrin, Women in Purple. Rulers of Medieval Byzantium, London 2001

Wroth W., Imperial Byzantine Coins in the British Museum, Chicago 1966

Brooks E.W., "The Marriage of the Emperor Theophilus", Byzantinische Zeitschrift, 10, 1901, 540-545

Grégoire H., "La date de la conversion des Bulgares", Byzantion, 8, 1933, 663-668

Treadgold W.T., "The Problem of the Marriage of the Emperor Theophilus", Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies, 16, 1975, 325-341

Χριστοφιλοπούλου Α., "Η αντιβασιλεία εις το Βυζάντιον", Σύμμεικτα, 2, 1970, 1-144

Δικτυογραφία : Michael III, the Drunkard, AV Solidus. Struck 842-843 AD(?), Constantinople mint. QEOdO-RA dESPVnA, crowned bust of Theodora facing, holding clobus cr http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sb/sb1686.html Theodora II. (830-856) http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/t/theodora_ii.shtml Wildwinds: Michael III, Theodora & Thecla AR Miliaresion. Constantinople, ca 842-856 AD http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sb/sb1690.html

Γλωσσάριo : augusta A formal title bestowed by an emperor on his wife, the empress, frequently after the birth of a son and heir. Rarely and extraordinary the title was bestowed on distinguished personages who belong to the emperor’s family. caesar In the Roman Empire the title of Caesar was given to the Emperor. From the reign of (284-305) on this title was conferred on the young co- emperor. This was also the highest title on the hierarchy of the Byzantine court. In the 8th c. the title of Caesar was usually given to the successor of

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the throne. In the late 11th c. this office was downgraded and from the 14th c. on it was mainly conferred on foreign princes. A military rank, first mentioned in the 7th century. This officer was in command of a droungos, a subdivision of the provincial army (thema). epi tou kanikleiou An imperial official who closely collaborated with the emperor, head of the imperial chancery, in charge of controlling all imperial documents before and after they were signed. The holder of the office played an important role in the imperial court, as well as in the administration. logothetes A title designating high-rank officials, both administrative and ecclesiastical. Their responsibilities were mainly in the economic domain. The office of the logothetes of the Patriarchate gradually gained in importance after the 12th century. As for the logothetes of the metropolises, they seem to have assumed judicial jurisdiction. logothetes tou dromou Administrative Byzantine title. Initially official in charge of the public post. From the 7th C he acquired a new role and his responsibilities included ceremonial duties, protection of emperor, general supervision of diplomatic relations and collection of political information. patrikios (from lat. patricius) Higher title of honour, placed, according to the "Tactika" of the 9th and the 10th centuries, between and . It was given to the most important governors and generals. Gradually, however, it fell into disuse and from the 12th century did not exist any more. A Byzantine military office, accorded to the chief of imperial stratores or hippokomoi («grooms»). The title is first mentionned in the 8th century. In the 9th and 10th century, his major duty was to accompany the Emperor while on horseback. In the 12th century he was one of the highest officials of the Byzantine court and he also commanded troops. Synaxarion of Constantinople A compilation of brief accounts on every saint that was celebrated during a liturgical year, arranged by months. It was one of the first and most thorough compilation of synaxaria and it is considered a valuable source for the Byzantine studies. Its compilation must be dated to the 10th century and was probably linked to the tradition of the Church of Constantinople. It was the model for many synaxaria compiled later (such as the Menologion of Basil II), and it was completed or slightly altered in some parts through the years. It was published in 1902 by the Belgian scholar Hippolyte Delehaye (Synaxarium ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae e codice Sirmondiano [Bruxelles 1902]). tourmarch Civilian and military commander of a tourma, subdivision of a theme.

Πηγές Μαρκόπουλος, A. (ed.), «Βίος της αυτοκράτειρας Θεοδώρας (Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca 1731)», Σύμμεικτα 5 (1983), pp. 249‑ 285.

Regel, W., Analecta Byzantino‑Russica (St. Petersburg 1891), p. 1‑43.

Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophani Continuati Chronographia. (Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1838).

Delehaye, H. (ed.), Synaxarium Ecclesiae constantinopolitanae (Bruxelles 1902).

Gouillard, J., “Le Synodikon de l’Orthodoxie. Édition et commentaire”, Traveau et Mémoires 2 (1967), pp. 1‑316.

Reiske, J.‑J. (ed.), Constantini Porphyrogeniti Imperatoris, De Cerimoniis Aulae Byzantinae. (Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1829).

Bekker, I. (ed.), Georgii Cedreni Ioannes Scylitzae Ope., Ι‑ΙΙ. (Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1838‑1839).

Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae, Synopsis Historiarum. (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae V, Berlin‑New York 1973).

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Lesmüller‑Werner, A. – Thurn, I. (ed.), Iosephi Genesii, Regum Libri Quattuor. (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae XIV, Berlin‑New York 1978).

Tafel, T. (ed.), Theodosii Melitene, Chronographia (München 1859).

Παπαδόπουλος‑Κεραμεύς, Α. (ed.), «Βίος και θαύματα του οσίου πατρός ημών Ευστρατίου…(Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca 645)», Ανάλεκτα Ιεροσολυμιτικής Σταχυολογίας 4 (St. Petersburg 1897; repr. Bruxelles 1963), pp. 367‑400, p. 378 l. 21‑27, p. 382 l. 22‑24.

De Boor, C. (ed.), Georgii monachi chronicon, 2 vols. Leipzig (Teubner, 1904, Bibliotheca Scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana, repr. 1978, 1st edn. corr. P. Wirth)

Niebuhr, B.G. (ed.), Leo Grammaticus (Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1842).

Παραθέματα Theodora's descent

Ἀλλὰ πατρίδα μὲν ἡ Θεοδώρα Παφλαγονίαν ἐσέμνυνεν, καὶ χωρίον Ἔβισσαν, γεννήτορα δὲ Μαρῖνον οὐκ ἄσημόν τινα ἢ ἰδιώτην τὴν τύχην, δρουγγάριον δὲ ἢ τουρμάρχην κατά τινας, καὶ μητέρα Θεοκτίστην τὴν οὕτω Φλωρίναν κατονομαζομένην, ἀμφότερους εὐσεβείᾳ ἐντεθραμμένους καὶ τὴν τῶν σεπτῶν εἰκόνων προσκύνησιν οὐκ ἐξαρνουμένους μέν, ὡς κατ’ ἐκεῖνο πάντες καιροῦ, ἀσπαζομένους δὲ καὶ ἐνστερνιζομένους ὑπερφυῶς.

Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophani Continuati Chronographia (Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1838), σελ. 89.

Theodora's prophecy on Basil I, from Theophanes' Continuatus

ἡ δὲ μόλις ἑαυτὴν ἐκ τῶν θορύβων τῶν φρενῶν συναθροίσασα ἔλεγεν ὅτι ὃν ἤκουον παρὰ τοῦ πατρός σου, δέσποτα, καὶ τέκνον ἐμόν, μέλλειν ἐξολοθρεῦσαι τὴν γενεὰν ἡμῶν, οὗτός εστιν ὃν λέγεις Βασίλειον

Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophani Continuati Chronographia (Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1838), p. 233.

Χρονολόγιο 815 (?): Theodora is born in Ebissa, Paphlagonia

June 830: Marriage to emperor Theophilos (829‑842) and

9/10 January 840: Birth of her son Michael, the future emperor Michael III

20 January 842: Death of Theophilos. Theodora assumes regency of her underage son Michael

11 March 843: Restoration of the icons

856: Theodora’s regency comes to its end

858: Theodora retires to the monastery of Gastria after 24 September 867: Theodora dies in the monastery of Gastria, and is buried there

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