What You Didn't Know 

 --- Empress Theodora used her position to advance her friends and to ruin her enemies.



--- Theodora was probably born in Constantinople.

--- Her father died when she was a child, leaving her in poverty.


--- She became a Pantomime actress before marrying Justinian in 525.

---  As empress, she founded a convent to house poor women.

---  In 532 a rebellion in the capital city of Constantinople threatened to overthrow the empire. Empress Theodora persuaded Justinian to stay and defend his city rather than to flee. Following Theodora's advice, Justinian crushed the rebels, thus securing his absolute power.

---  She was the Byzantine empress from 527 to 565.

---  She died on June 28, 548.