Theodora, daughter of Constantine VII
Encyclopedia
Theodora, daughter of Constantine VII (born c. 946) was the second wife and first Empress consort of John I Tzimiskes
.
She was a daughter of Constantine VII
and Helena Lekapene
. Her maternal grandparents were Romanos I
and Theodora
.
The work Theophanes Continuatus
was a continuation of the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor
by other writers, active during the reign of her father. The chronicle ends in 961 and records her fate following the death of Constantine VII on 9 November 959. Her brother Romanos II
succeeded to the throne and his Empress Theophano convinced him to send all five of his sisters to the convent
of Kanikleion.
Theodora and her sisters Zoe, Agatha, Theophano and Anna were initially held in Kanikleion. Later they were split with Theodora, Zoe and Theophano sent to the monastery
of Antiochus while Agatha and Anna were sent to Myrelaion
, a nunnery built by their maternal grandfather.
While the sisters were following their monastic lives, changes were occurring in the imperial throne. Romanos II died on 15 March 963. His co-rulers and successors were his underage sons Basil II
and Constantine VIII
. Theophano served as their Regent until marrying victorious general Nikephoros II
. Nikephoros rose to the throne as senior Emperor. However Theophano and her lover John I Tzimiskes
organized his assassination on the night of 10 December 969 – 11 December 969.
John became senior Emperor in place of his victim. Theophano was exiled to the island of Pringipos
. However, unlike his predecessor, John lacked a connection to the legitimate Macedonian dynasty
by either blood and marriage. His previous marriage to Maria Skeleraina had solidified an alliance with general Bardas Skleros
. The loyalties of the rest of the Byzantine Empire
were not as secure.
John rectified the situation by releasing Theodora from Myrelaion and arranging their marriage. According to Leo the Deacon
the marriage occurred in November, 971. "The Cambridge Medieval History. Vol. IV, The Byzantine Empire" (1966) by Joan M. Hussey
, attributes to this marriage the birth of a daughter:
John I died on 10 January 976. Whether Theodora was still alive is not mentioned in Medieval sources.
John I Tzimiskes
John I Tzimiskes or Tzimisces, was Byzantine Emperor from December 11, 969 to January 10, 976. A brilliant and intuitive general, John's short reign saw the expansion of the empire's borders and the strengthening of Byzantium itself.- Background :...
.
She was a daughter of Constantine VII
Constantine VII
Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos or Porphyrogenitus, "the Purple-born" was the fourth Emperor of the Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire, reigning from 913 to 959...
and Helena Lekapene
Helena Lekapene
Helena Lekapene was the Empress consort of Constantine VII. She was a daughter of Romanos I and his wife Theodora.-Background:...
. Her maternal grandparents were Romanos I
Romanos I
Romanos I Lekapenos was Byzantine Emperor from 920 until his deposition on December 16, 944.-Origin:...
and Theodora
Theodora, wife of Romanos I
-Empress:Her origins and background are not known. She became the mother-in-law to Constantine VII in May or June, 919 with the marriage of the young Emperor to her daughter Helena Lekapene...
.
The work Theophanes Continuatus
Theophanes Continuatus
Theophanes Continuatus or Scriptores post Theophanem is the Latin name commonly applied to a collection of historical writings preserved in the 11th-century Vat. gr. 167 manuscript. Its name derives from its role as the continuation, covering the years 813–961, of the chronicle of Theophanes the...
was a continuation of the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes the Confessor
Saint Theophanes Confessor was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy, who became a monk and chronicler. He is venerated on March 12 in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church .-Biography:Theophanes was born in Constantinople of wealthy and noble iconodule parents: Isaac,...
by other writers, active during the reign of her father. The chronicle ends in 961 and records her fate following the death of Constantine VII on 9 November 959. Her brother Romanos II
Romanos II
Romanos II was a Byzantine emperor. He succeeded his father Constantine VII in 959 at the age of twenty-one, and died suddenly in 963.-Life:...
succeeded to the throne and his Empress Theophano convinced him to send all five of his sisters to the convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of Kanikleion.
Theodora and her sisters Zoe, Agatha, Theophano and Anna were initially held in Kanikleion. Later they were split with Theodora, Zoe and Theophano sent to the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Antiochus while Agatha and Anna were sent to Myrelaion
Bodrum Mosque
Bodrum Mosque is a former Eastern Orthodox church converted into a mosque by the Ottomans. The church was known under the Greek name of Myrelaion .-Location:...
, a nunnery built by their maternal grandfather.
While the sisters were following their monastic lives, changes were occurring in the imperial throne. Romanos II died on 15 March 963. His co-rulers and successors were his underage sons Basil II
Basil II
Basil II , known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his ancestor Basil I the Macedonian, was a Byzantine emperor from the Macedonian dynasty who reigned from 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025.The first part of his long reign was dominated...
and Constantine VIII
Constantine VIII
Constantine VIII was reigning Byzantine emperor from December 15, 1025 until his death. He was the son of the Emperor Romanos II and Theophano, and the younger brother of the eminent Basil II, who died childless and thus left the rule of the Byzantine Empire in his hands.-Family:As...
. Theophano served as their Regent until marrying victorious general Nikephoros II
Nikephoros II
Nikephoros II Phokas was a Byzantine Emperor whose brilliant military exploits contributed to the resurgence of Byzantine Empire in the tenth century.-Early exploits:...
. Nikephoros rose to the throne as senior Emperor. However Theophano and her lover John I Tzimiskes
John I Tzimiskes
John I Tzimiskes or Tzimisces, was Byzantine Emperor from December 11, 969 to January 10, 976. A brilliant and intuitive general, John's short reign saw the expansion of the empire's borders and the strengthening of Byzantium itself.- Background :...
organized his assassination on the night of 10 December 969 – 11 December 969.
John became senior Emperor in place of his victim. Theophano was exiled to the island of Pringipos
Büyükada
Büyükada is the largest of the nine so-called Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara, near Istanbul, with an area of about two square miles...
. However, unlike his predecessor, John lacked a connection to the legitimate Macedonian dynasty
Macedonian dynasty
The Macedonian dynasty ruled the Byzantine Empire from 867 to 1056, following the Amorian dynasty. During this period, the Byzantine state reached its greatest expanse since the Muslim conquests, and the Macedonian Renaissance in letters and arts began. The dynasty was named after its founder,...
by either blood and marriage. His previous marriage to Maria Skeleraina had solidified an alliance with general Bardas Skleros
Bardas Skleros
Bardas Skleros or Sclerus was a Byzantine general who led a wide-scale Asian rebellion against Emperor Basil II in 976–979.-Background:...
. The loyalties of the rest of the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
were not as secure.
John rectified the situation by releasing Theodora from Myrelaion and arranging their marriage. According to Leo the Deacon
Leo the Deacon
Leo the Deacon was a Byzantine Roman historian and chronicler.He was born around 950 at Kaloe in Asia Minor, and was educated in Constantinople, where he became a deacon in the imperial palace. While in Constantinople he wrote a history covering the reigns of Romanus II, Nicepheros II, John...
the marriage occurred in November, 971. "The Cambridge Medieval History. Vol. IV, The Byzantine Empire" (1966) by Joan M. Hussey
Joan M. Hussey
Joan Mervyn Hussey , MA PhD FSA FRHistS was a British Byzantine scholar and historian.-Education:...
, attributes to this marriage the birth of a daughter:
- Theophano KourkouasKourkouasThe Kourkouas or Curcuas family was one of the many nakharar families from Armenia that migrated to the Byzantine Empire during the Islamic invasions. They rose to prominence as part of the Anatolian military aristocracy in the 10th century, providing several high-ranking generals and an emperor....
.
John I died on 10 January 976. Whether Theodora was still alive is not mentioned in Medieval sources.