Theodore

Theodora - Byzantine Empress 1028 - 1030, 1042-1056 gg. The daughter of Constantine VIII. + 31 August. 1056
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After his father's death in 1028, Mr.. Theodore was proclaimed Empress, along with her older sister Zoya. She had a calm nature and a bit sluggish, for awards and gifts were very restrained, but in his old age became even stingy. Formally, she reigned together with Zoe and her husband, Roman III, but did not enjoy any power. In 1030, Mr.. Zoe Theodore ordered to remove from the palace, mow it and determine the place of honor conclusion one of the Imperial house. In April 1042, Mr.. itself Zoya deposed and tonsured her stepson Michael V. Then the insurgent crowd gave Theodore the capital, and the Patriarch Alexei newly crowned her to the kingdom. But this time her government lasted only a few days. After Zoe was free, Theodore voluntarily submitted to her and recognized her seniority (Psellos: 'Michael Fifth', 34, 37, 51). Initially, the sisters decided to rule themselves. However, none of them cast of mind not fit for autocratic power, they were unable to dispose of or take hard decisions, and to the king's care for the most part women mingled trifles. Finally, with the consent of sinklita, Zoya third time married - this time for Constantine Monomakh, and gave him full power (Psellos: 'Constantine Ninth', 2, 4-5, 21). Only after the death of her sister and her husband in January 1055, Mr.. kingdom finally transferred to Theodora. It all expected that it will hand over power to some noble and capable of commanding the husband, but despite all the views and assumptions of Theodore took over the autocratic rule of rum in his hands. Strengthen it in this decision, servants and pets, all are experienced in the affairs. Therefore, the Empress opened the rules state, kept herself from the male independence and did not see the need in any veil. She herself has designated officials, from the height of the throne uttered in a firm voice command, the views expressed and solved litigation. The reign of her, according to Psellos, was not devoid of glory and greatness. Reigned eighteen years, she was struck cha-zhelym disease: secretory ability of the body were disturbed as a result of emptying occurred through the oral cavity. Sensing the approach of death, Theodore declared emperor Michael Stratiotikos (Psellos: 'Theodore', 1-2, 4, 19-20).