Theodora and justinian biography of christopher

Byzantine empress from 527 to 548

For other uses, see Theodora.

Theodora (; Greek: Θεοδώρα; c. 490/500 – 28 June 548)^[1] was a Byzantine empress and wife of emperor Justinian I.

She was from humble origins and became empress when her husband became emperor in 527. She was one of his chief advisers. Theodora is recognized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Church, and commemorated on 14 November.^[2]

Early years

Theodora was of Greek descent,^[3] but much of her early life, including the date and place of her birth, is uncertain: for instance, according to Michael the Syrian, her birthplace was in Mabbug, Syria;^[4]Nicephorus Callistus Xanthopoulos says Theodora is a native of Cyprus;^[5] and the Patria, attributed to George Codinus, claims Theodora came from Paphlagonia.^[6] 21st-century historian Clive Foss has also suggested the Egyptia