I’d like to highlight a particular story of the Byzantine Empire that I found interesting.
During the age of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople was the capital, and Justinian was its Emperor. The demes are split between the Greens and the Blues. This is something we see even today — Republicans vs Democrats, Conservative vs Labour. The Greens and Blues rarely saw eye to eye, so the Emperor was able to play one against the other and rule over them.
However, around C.E. 532, an incident involving men from both the Green and Blue faction were involved and riled up both factions against the Emperor. The demes asked for the Emperor to abdicate his throne. They burned huge parts of Constantinople for days, and Emperor Justinian’s life was under immense threat.
As they were discussing how to flee the city, Justinian’s wife spoke up in this history-making speech.
My Lords, the present occasion is too serious to allow me to follow the convention that a woman should not speak in a man’s council. thoes whose interests are threatened by extreme danger should think only of the wisest course of action, not of conventions.
In my opinion, flight is not the right course, even if it should bring us to safety. it is impossible for a person, having been born into this world, not to die; but for one who has reigned it is intolerable to be a fugitive. May i never be deprived of this purple robe, and may i never see the day when thoes who meet me do not call me Empress.
If you wish to save yourself, my Lord, there is no difficulty. We are rich, over there is the sea, and yonder are the ships. Yet reflect for a moment, whether, when you have onced escaped to a place of security, you would not gladly exchange such safety for death. As for me, i agree with the adage, that royal purple is the noblest shroud.
When all the men around Justinian was planning how to flee the city of chaos, it was Justinian who got them to stay.
Although i think a good part of the intention to stay came from a place of pride, it was brazen of her to stand up against the council and persuade the men to face the danger with dignity.
Justinian decided to stay, rally his generals, and waged a war against the demes. They killed over 30k people, and restored the kingdom. From there on, Justinian and Theodora rebuilt Constantinople from its ashes, including aqueducts, bridges, 25 churches including Hagia Sophia that we see today.
Theodora
Theodora came from humble and even questionable origins, as most sources couldn’t confirm exactly the details of her birthplace. She was born in C.E. 500 from Syria, and worked as an actress and prostitute. She traveled and worked in many countries including Libya in North Africa, Egypt, before arriving in Constantinople.
Justinian and Theodora had similar origins; devoid of aristocratic or patrician inheritance and both grew up as Christians. To marry Theodora, Justinian even had to pass a new law that allows actresses to marry outside of their rank if the marriage was approved by the Emperor.
Justinian succeeded the throne in C.E. 527, when Theodora was 27. She then became the Empress of the Byzantine Empire. As an Empress, Theodora was known to be intelligent, and deft at handling political affairs. Many thought that she was smarter than Justinian. She received foreign envoys and corresponded directly with foreign rulers herself.
Ah, the women behind the powerful men.
I wonder if Theodora’s personal history set her up for a resilient character, one that does not shy away from confrontations or challenges. It takes a lot of courage to go against the grain or forces that be, have laws changed just for her, all the while not having a ‘safe community’ of other women to fall back on (that other women need or have today). Although her political decisions seem to have come from a vengeful spirit stemming from her past, it may be that wild force that is required to create the more equitable empire then. Someone who had a more balanced and well-endowed life may not have that thirst or fire to make thoes calls. I admire the guts to enact changes unabashedly.
I wonder what kind of person she is in person.
Full story including context completed with animations can be found in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGL_M1SQV5E
