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Historical person

Theodora

c. 500–548

Theodora was Byzantine empress as the wife and political partner of Justinian I. Rising from comparatively humble origins, she became one of the most powerful women of the sixth-century empire and is prominently described—often with hostility—by the historian Procopius.

Theodora also held the offices or ranks of Byzantine emperor. Theodora belonged to the Justinian dynasty (by marriage) and operated within Byzantine Empire. Theodora was born in Paphlagonia and died in Constantinople, Byzantine Empire.

Nick HolmesJustinian’s Empire covers the codification of Roman law, the Nika riots, the construction of Hagia Sophia and the campaigns led by Belisarius against the Vandals in North Africa and the Ostrogoths in Italy. Theodora and Procopius are central to an account of court politics, propaganda and the contested reputation of the emperor. In Procopius’ The Secret History, Procopius’s Secret History is a hostile account of Justinian, Theodora, Belisarius and the sixth-century Byzantine court. Theodora is treated fictionally in William Havelock’s An Age of Darkness and Light, Robert GravesCount Belisarius, David Donachie’s Honour, Ross Laidlaw’s Justinian, and Gillian Bradshaw’s The Bearkeeper's Daughter.

Periods

Periods linked to Theodora

Series

Historical novels and book series featuring Theodora (4 series)

The Last of the Romans in Order

by William Havelock 7 books 4.5(13,354)

The Last of the Romans follows the campaigns of Belisarius during the sixth-century attempt by Emperor Justinian I to restore Roman rule across the Mediterranean. Told through Varus, a fictional Herulian soldier who rises through the imperial army, the series moves from the Persian frontier and the Nika…

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Moments of History in Order

by Julian Stockwin 2 books 4.1(434)

The Moments of History series uses self-contained historical adventures to explore discoveries and technologies that changed the balance of power between societies. Each novel follows fictional travellers and craftsmen whose ambitions place them beside documented rulers, scholars and military events at a decisive historical turning point. The Silk…

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Caesar’s Sword in Order

by David Pilling 3 books 4.1(1,672)

Caesar's Sword follows Coel ap Amhar, the imagined grandson of King Arthur, as he carries the legendary blade Caledfwlch into the wars of Emperor Justinian. From the Vandal kingdom in North Africa to the siege of Rome and the final campaigns against the Ostrogoths, the trilogy combines post-Arthurian…

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The Last Roman in Order

by David Donachie 3 books 4.7(29)

The Last Roman trilogy follows Flavius Belisarius from a provincial childhood marked by betrayal to command of the armies of Justinian I. His pursuit of vengeance becomes entangled with imperial service, court rivalry and the emperor’s ambition to recover the western provinces of Rome. The sequence moves from…

All books in this series

Standalone books

Standalone books featuring Theodora (3 books)

Non Fiction

Non Fiction featuring Theodora (3 books)

Biographies, histories and other non-fiction are listed separately from the historical novels above.