Celebrating the Women of Byzantium Part V

If there’s anything we’ve learned from this blog series, it’s that blood proved a fickle bond in Byzantine royalty; Empress Irene, for example, had her son arrested and blinded so that she may rule alone.

This week, we’re sharing the story of two sisters – the pretty, vain Zoe and the complacent Theodora – who lasted just two months as co-rulers.  While their relationship may have been strained (to put it lightly), these royal sisters did not resort to bloodshed to assuage their differences (at least).  So, there is a silver lining in this story of sibling rivalry!

Want to catch up on this series about the powerful and rebellious women of Byzantium? 
Read up on Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV.

The Fabulous Empress Zoe…and Theodora

This mosaic of Empress Zoe was altered many times throughout history, perhaps to make the aging Empress appear more youthful and attractive.

Zoe and Theodora were among the few Byzantine rulers who were “Porphyrogenita, or “born into the purple” (that is, as the child of a reigning emperor).” The girls were the daughters of Constantine VIII and Helena, daughter of Alypius.

Ever the overbearing father (and worried that a son-in-law would be all to eager to take over the throne), Constantine held off on marrying his daughters until the end of life.  He had chosen Romanos III Argyros as a husband for Theodora, but the princess declined.  Romanos was a married man and she, well, had the sense to not get tangled in that mess.  Zoe, nearly 50 and probably annoyed with the prospect of being an old maid, was much more lax in her morals and became her father’s second choice for marriage to Romanos.  Romanos and Zoe were married on November 12, 1028.

That same year, Constantine died and Romanos and Zoe ascended to the throne.  While this newfound power pleased Zoe, she was still bitter about being her father’s second choice to marry Romanos.  She was jealous of his apparent favoritism of Theodora and, naturally, had her sister exiled to a monastery.

Meanwhile, Zoe’s married life wasn’t faring any better than her family life.  The middle-aged Empress had not produced an heir and Romanos paid little attention to her.  Stunningly beautiful and youthful in appearance (it was said she had part of her chambers converted into a laboratory where made her own anti-aging cosmetics), Zoe was quite vain and thus enraged by her husband’s neglect.

Dismissed and rejected, Zoe craved attention and eventually got it from Michael, her chamberlain.  Curiously, around this time in 1034, Emperor Romanos was found dead in his bath, poisoned, strangled, or drowned (depending on your source).  Like most widows, Zoe grieved by marrying Michael that same day.  Naturally, there was nothing suspicious there and certainly no foul play surrounding the death of the emperor.

Now nearing her 60s, Zoe was unable to produce an heir with Michael.  Eager to have an heir for the throne, the couple adopted Michael’s nephew, Michael V Calaphates, as their son.  After the death of Michael in 1041, Michael V ascended the throne and had his adopted mother exiled to a convent near Constantinople.

Michael V’s reign was a short one, however.  A mob, loyal to Zoe and Theodora (remember her?),  deposed Michael V, blinded him, and had him exiled to a monastery in 1042.  They then placed Zoe and Theodora on the throne as co-rulers.

Two months after this happy ending, Zoe was tired of her sister (some of her previous jealousy remained and she wanted the throne for herself) and married for a third time.  By the rules of the church, she was permitted another husband and she chose Constantine IX Monomachos.  Poor Theodora was once again sent away in exile and Zoe reigned as Empress until her death in 1050.

Sources
Main image: Constantine IX, Christ, and Empress Zoe mosaic from Hagia Sophia. Via https://inpress.lib.uiowa.edu/feminae/DetailsPage.aspx?Feminae_ID=32455. Fun fact: This mosaic originally portrayed Romanos instead of Constantine.  Certain nefarious bathtime acts probably led to this change.
Zoe – https://www.britannica.com/biography/Zoe-Byzantine-empress
The Byzantine Empress Zoe Porphyrogenita and the quest for eternal youth – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22938012
Zoe Porphyrogenita – https://www.geni.com/people/Zoe-Porphyrogenita-Empress-of-the-Byzantine-Empire/385912840740007136
Six Byzantine women who ruled the empire – http://www.eileenstephenson.com/single-post/2016/09/18/Six-Byzantine-women-who-ruled-the-Empire
Women in Gold: Powerful empresses on Byzantine coins – http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/women-gold-powerful-empresses-byzantine-coins
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