Theodora, Prostitute, Empress and Saint

We will present the history of the sensual Theodora, energetic, ambitious and controversial, prostitute and actress, who became Empress of the Great Eastern Roman Empire, often misnamed Byzantium. With commoner blood and being sexual companion she became the most influential woman in the history of the Roman Empire, of an infinitely praised beauty. It came to be considered even holy.

The Roman Empire, despite losing its western provinces in the 5th century, will last for a long 1,400 years. The Roman Republic was reorganized as an Empire in the year 27 AD and finally falls in 1453 AD at the hands of the Ottoman Empire with the definitive capture of the great city of Eastern Rome: constantinople, called Istanbul until today after falling into Turkish hands.

Theodora was born in Cyprus into a very humble family, her mother was an actress and dancer while her father was a bear tamer at the great Hippodrome of Constantinople, a place where chariot races, dances, plays and exhibitions of exotic animals were held. Some believe that as a child she lived in the basement of the racetrack, in an environment full of vices. 

At an early age he would dedicate himself to working in a brothel from the city with one of her two sisters, to enter later to work in the theater where she dedicated herself to the work of actress and courtesan. 

“Teodora began acting at the age of ten and soon, her delicate beauty and the character shown in her theatrical roles, led her to be the favorite at the community parties of the nobility, to the point that she quickly became the highest paid and most celebrated actress in Constantinople" Assures Nora Carbonell in her academic article "Teodora of Byzantium, prostitute and saint.

The time seems to suggest an intimate relationship between theater and prostitution. Therefore, performing a job as an actress included an uninhibited sensuality on stage, nourishing the libido of her spectators, and provocatively undressing, thus showing Teodora her sublime beauty. According to Procopio, a historian of the time, "one of her favorite numbers consisted of riding half-naked on spirited steeds."

In these times she became close friends with the wife of the most famous Roman General of the time, Belisarius, as a first kick to rub shoulders with higher-ranking people. The first step on a path that would lead her to imperial royalty.

In one of those community festivals, having gained a lot of fame throughout Constantinople, Theodora, aged sixteen, began working as a companion to a Syrian officer named Ecebolus, governor of Cyrenaica, today the north coast of Libya. 

After living with him for four years, she was abandoned, however her destiny, even if she didn't know it yet, would be eternal glory. Her friend, Belisario's wife, "was the one who persuaded her to attend an aristocratic party where she met Prince Justinian, immediately captivated by her beauty and proud attitude as an intelligent woman superior to circumstances." Justinian, after confronting the law that prohibited royalty from marrying prostitutes, servants or women of dubious origin, changed the laws of the time to make her Empress. 

Thus Theodora, despite being of commoner origin, managed to be crowned as empress with the title of Augusta. She exercised power as chosen by divinity and they recognized her right to do so.

There are testimonies that Theodora was very "determined and courageous" and "that she took action on matters related to improving the quality of life for women" of the colossal Eastern Roman Empire.

"In her new role, Theodora rose to the occasion, remaining faithful to her husband, taking an interest in state affairs, demonstrating great insight, and exerting considerable influence over Justinian in matters of government." Assures Luis Orrego Campano in The Empress Theodora: Construct of the political figure of women in the Byzantine Empire.

According to Nora Carbonell, "Teodora was proclaimed a Saint by the Orthodox Church, due to her indisputable humanitarian work in favor of minorities and the most vulnerable social classes, at a time of prohibitions and accentuated undervaluation of women." 

Thanks to Teodora, if a woman decided to engage in prostitution "they had to work in brothels run by themselves, with special regulations to prevent abuse."

Theodora, without having royal blood, was "progressively accessing and legitimizing an autocratic use of power, which allowed the imperial authority to adopt feminine forms during the VI and IX centuries" According to Perez Sanchez. Dionisio; 

References:
http://gredos.usal.es/jspui/bitstream/10366/73746/1/Identidad_nacional_y_modelos_femeninos_e.pdf
Nora Carbonell, “Theodora of Byzantium, prostitute and saint”.
Isabel Lasala Navarro, “Public and political image of Empress Teodora. A study from the work of Procopio de Cesarea”
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/38836718.pdf
José María de Francisco Olmos, “Women and the supreme power in Byzantium, V-XI centuries. Numismatic approach”
Luis Orrego Campano, "The Empress Theodora: Construct of the political figure of women in the Byzantine Empire"

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