Articles

Far in the past the Roman Empire had grown so vast, it was split in 2 for administrative purposes. An eastern Greek city near the Black Sea, Byzantia, was rebuilt by emperor Constantine in 330AD, and renamed Constantinople (now known as Istanbul). Thus Rome ruled the west, and Constantinople ruled the eastern Roman Empire. The east, known to us as the Byzantine Empire, comprised Greece Serbia Bulgaria Macedonia Turkey Syria Palestine Cyprus and Black Sea. It formally existed from 395 to 1453 AD.

 

A dark time in history, about 470AD, Asian hordes swept across the north. Germanic tribes fled south and flooded into the Roman empire, causing destabilisation, chaos, and bankruptcy. Central
administration collapsed in 476AD, and with it crumbled the entire western empire, plunging Europe into the despotic Dark Ages.

 

Meantime Emperor Constantine in the east, closed the Byzantine borders. No “illegal boat people” for him! Thus was preserved Roman power, culture, technology, and civilization for a thousand years beyond the fall of Rome. Constantinople became the most elaborate and civilized city in the world. It was a mix of Greek and Middle Eastern elements, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and a rock solid economy. Some 95 emperors served the empire, and the defacto dynasty of the Lascaris family still exists today.

 

Like any empire, its fortunes waxed and waned with political turmoil, rebellions, alliances and invasions. By the time of the 16^th Emperor, Justinian 1, 527AD, there was massive political & religious strife, corruption, lawlessness, political murders, Emperor about to flee, and a shrinking empire.

 

Twenty years before this, Theodora Fawiz was born in Syria. As was usual she learned the Middle Eastern dance. The family later worked at Constantinople’s hippodrome (entertainment stadium) in charge
of the wild animals. Theodora learned a lot about mankind from the slaves and patrons. At 12 years old, mother put Theodora and her 2 sisters on stage as Dancers and actors. Apparently they put on a
wild show, and became very famous!

 

At 16 she ran away with boyfriend and lived in North Africa and Egypt, absorbing more ME culture. She left him after 4 years, came home with a daughter, and converted to a sect of Christianity. Theodora occupied herself spinning wool, dancing, and partying in high places. Thus she came to the attention of emperor-in-waiting Justinian, 20 years her senior. There followed a torrid romance, and political opposition. However there developed such a great love, that a 6 century old royal Roman rule was changed to allow official marriage. In a fairytale ceremony on April 4, 527AD, Theodora, a commoner and dancer, became installed as Justinian 1 and Theodora, Emperor
& Empress of the Byzantine Empire.

 

Like all dancers, Theodora was smart and wise. She knew the ways of men, of power, and the needs of the common man. She ruled equally with Justinian.

 

Justinian had long been involved in dirty politics and was about to receive his just deserts, a public revolt. Theodora herself rallied the government and the army, the revolt was put down, 30,000 were killed, but the throne and empire were saved.

 

Theodora went on to organise major law reforms on corruption by public officials, more rights for women, guardianship, property, divorce, and many others. She elevated the status of women above that in any other civilization in Europe or the ME. She created homes for homeless girls, convents for the repentant, a Monastery, and helped unite the various factions in the Orthodox Church. The city was given new aqueducts, bridges, and 25 churches. The Church of the “Holy Wisdom” was one of the architectural wonders of the world, and still exists today.

 

J and T sent the armies out, and reconquered all the Mediterranean
states that used to be part of the original Roman empire. Pilgrims
poured into Jerusalem to visit the holy Christian places.
Constantinople grew in art, power and stature.

 

Theodora had no children to Justinian, and she died at 48, with cancer.

 

J did not govern well without her. There was over taxation, more wars with Persians, Bulgaria, and he lost the restored Mediterranean empire. He “resigned” in 565AD after a 38 year reign.

 

Justinian 1 went down in history as one of the greatest emperors of the empire, but it was all due to Theodora, - witty, wise, and intelligent, the most influential woman in Byzantine history.

 

Post script. Muslim Arabs besieged Constantinople in the late 600’s, and were repelled. The army underwent major reform. There was golden age of power and literacy in the 870 900 and 1000’s AD. Intellectuals from Constantinople travelled to the west and were influential in starting the Renaissance of Europe.

 

Barbarous horse warriors from the Russian Steppes invaded Turkey and Bulgaria. (They are now the modern Turks.) Arabs invaded from the south, Jerusalem was lost, and Byzantia became isolated. There were power struggles and political strifes.

 

In 1100’s the emperor sought help from the west. To Venice he gave trade concessions which allowed them to become a powerful naval / trade nation. The Pope organised 200years of European “Holy” Crusades (plunder and kill operations) to free the Holy lands.

 

Pope Innocent III sent the 4^th Crusade to Constantinople to “correct” the Orthodox faith. The city was sacked and looted by the Crusaders in 1204AD, and a French Emperor installed. Remnants of the empire survived in Turkey (eg the Nicean empire). After 60 years of scheming, the Byzantines took back Constantinople.

 

However the “Christian” Crusaders had emptied the treasury and fractured the empire beyond repair. Despite valiant efforts, there was gradual decay over the next 200 years. Invading Turks of the Ottoman regime took over the territories, and finally took the capital in 1453.

 

Two thousand years of Roman civilization crumbled under the relentless Turkish canons. Alone and isolated in a Muslim world, with no western friends to help, the last Roman Emperor (Constantine III) died on the walls of Constantinople, defending his beloved city to the end.

 

Post Post script. A book “The Secret History” was written by Byzantine historian Procopius in 550AD, after the death of Theodora. He painted a very different picture of J & T, as evil despots, employing lies, treachery, torture, executions, grand theft and depravity on a scale only available to kings, and too terrible to write here. Why he should write this is a mystery, as every other historian wrote praise and honour. Was Procopius writing in revenge, or did he know something all others did not? We shall never know, and for the moment we shall accept the honourable records of a great moment in the life of the Roman Empire.