THEODORA, Empress of the East. — The most famous of the various empresses bearing this name, wife of JUSTINIAN, died in 548, not yet fifty years old.
Of humble origin, her early youth must have been anything but irreproachable, even if it did not reach the depths of depravity claimed by PROCOPIUS. In 522, however, when she met JUSTINIAN, though barely in her twenties and very beautiful, she was already living in seclusion, devoted to pious practices and deeply engaged with the religious controversies agitating consciences at the time. Married in 525 and crowned in 527, she conducted herself with dignity, and especially after her vigorous energy revived resistance during the great insurrection of 532, she exercised a notable influence over her husband’s mind. This influence was not, however, as strong as some believe, for she opposed his political-religious program aimed at consolidating the unity of the Church within the unity of the Empire. Although JUSTINIAN associated his wife’s name with his own in imperial rescripts and laws, he resisted her pressure in favor of the Monophysites, of whom T. was a fervent follower and whose doctrines she wished to secure triumph through her authority, promoting their supporters to the highest ecclesiastical dignities. T. was chiefly responsible for the deposition of Pope SILVERIUS (v.) and his replacement with VIGILIUS, who
was later shown to be sufficiently compliant toward the Monophysites, only to be arrested (545) and exiled at the Empress’s behest.