Theodora

Part 4

• After the riots Justinian became an even stronger ruler than he had before.

• He also worked to make Constantinople beautiful again.

Justinian's wife wasTheodora. Theodora was an important empress of the Byzantine Empire.

She had been an actress when she met Justinian. At that time it was against the law for government leaders to marry actresses.

• Justinian had the law changed so that he could marry Theodora.

• They married in 522.

• When Justinian became emperor in 527, Theodora became the empress.

In 542 A.D., a terrible plague made many people in Constantinople sick.

The disease was probably caused by rats. It killed thousands of people and returned every 8 to 12 years until about 700. This weakened the empire.

During one of these Plagues Justinian became sick. Theodora took his place as ruler of the Byzantine Empire until Justinian became well again.

She was a strong and intelligent ruler. Even after Justinian was able to rule again, Theodora continued to make many government decisions.

• Empress Theodora had many strong ideas about the government, women, and religion.

As empress she helped Justinian solve many government problems.She decided who would be given government and church jobs.

• She encouraged Justinian to build hospitals and churches.

She also worked to give women more rights. Theodora even started homes to care for poor girls.

She and Justinian ruled together until her death in 548 A.D.

The empire was forced to confront many enemies over the centuries. German tribes, the Sassanid Persians, and Muslim armies all tried to gain control of Byzantine land. Constantinople remained safe during this time despite many attacks. Eventually, though, the empire shrank. By 1350, the empire included only the capital city and lands in the Balkans—part of southeastern Europe.