Dig Into History

n Control

everal women ruled the Byzantine Emp

wn names or as co-regents. Male milita

ere the norm, but intelligent and stron

omen, or those who were closely relate

eirs and rulers, were occasionally crow

his was a departure from the Western R

mpire, which prohibited women from

rectly.

When Princess Pulcheria’s royal fathe

14 C.E., she declared herself Empress Re

ounger brother, Theodosius. When he

he continued to wield great influence. A

450 C.E., Pulcheria again took the thr

eath three years later.

Empress Theodora ruled jointly with

usband, Justinian I, for more than 20 y

espite her humble background as an a

he daughter of a dancing-bear trainer,

uled well. She is remembered for cham

he rights of women. She instituted polic

rohibited violence against women, insu

eater financial security for wives, and

xpanded divorce, child guardianship, a

roperty ownership rights for women. T

so built convents. These offered wome

nd more chances to study.

At the Helm As Well
ueen Irene, widow of Emperor Leo IV,
o-regent for their young son. She is bes
r ending iconoclasm (the destruction o
mages — see pages 18–19) and restorin
making icons, especially as church de
mportant aspect of Byzantine art.
The last woman to rule the empire w
alassena, who died in 1100 C.E. She wa
Emperor Alexios I Comnenus. After A
owned, he spent the next 15 years lea
gainst the Turks. He appointed his mot
s absence and decreed that any order
be treated as though it came from him

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came of age,

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actress and

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ured

and

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reigned as

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was Anna

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35