Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium, AD 527-1204

Couverture
Psychology Press, 1999 - 343 pages
2 Avis
The first extended work in the field since Charles Diehl published his Figures Byzantine more than ninety years ago, Byzantine Empresses provides much-needed historical data in an accessible and up-to-date form.Using a chronological approach, Lynda Garland provides a series of biographical portraits of the most significant Byzantine women who ruled or shared the throne between 527 and 1204. She presents and analyzes the available historical data in order to outline what these empresses did, what the sources thought they did, and what they wanted to do. Revealed are stories of imperial women who had considerable resources, such as powerful patronage, their own courts of women, eunuchs and ministers and who wielded an enormous amount of influence, such as total government control and the power to issue coinage and decrees.Lavishly illustrated, Byzantine Empresses provides an immense contribution to the study of women in Byzantine civilization.This title availablein eBook format. here for more information.Visit our eBookstore at-
 

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Table des matières

Eudokia Makrembolitissa 105978+
168
The empresses of Alexios I Komnenos 10811118
180
Maria of Antioch 1161823
199
Euphrosyne Doukaina 11951203
210
Epilogue
225
Tables
229
Glossary
241
Notes
246

Zoe Porphyrogenneta 102850
136
Empresses as autocrats
159
Theodora the last Macedonian 104256
161
Bibliography
293
Index
319
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Page 144 - ... brought to an end and to her they owed their preservation. Each, therefore, had a claim on the Empire. However, the problem was settled for them by Zoe. For the first time, she greeted her sister and embraced her with affection. What is more, she shared with her the Empire they had both inherited. The question of the government was thus resolved by agreement between them. Next, Zoe brought her to live with herself, escorted by a procession of great magnificence, and made her joint-ruler of the...
Page 147 - ... went into exile (as I have remarked in a previous chapter) this woman still remained at his side. With loving care she tended his wants, put at his disposal all her possessions, gave him all manner of comfort, and lightened the bitter load of his affliction. The truth is, she, no less than himself, was sustained by hopes of power; nothing else mattered if only in the future she might share the throne with her husband. I say 'husband...
Page 80 - We define with all accuracy and care that the venerable and holy icons be set up like the form of the venerable and life-giving Cross, inasmuch as matter consisting of colours and pebbles and other matter is appropriate in the holy Church of God, on sacred vessels and...
Page 21 - ... the Emperor Justinian is winning victories through his General Belisarius, and the General is returning to the Emperor, with his whole army intact, and he gives him spoils, both kings and kingdoms and all things that are most prized among men. In the centre stand the Emperor and the Empress Theodora, both seeming to rejoice and to celebrate victories over both the King of the Vandals and the King of the Goths, who approach them as prisoners of war to be led into bondage. Around them stands the...
Page 143 - Where can she be?' they cried. 'She who alone is noble of heart and alone is beautiful. Where can she be, she who alone of all women is free, the mistress of all the imperial family, the rightful heir to the Empire, whose father* *70 was emperor, whose grandfather was monarch before him — yes, and great-grandfather too?
Page 150 - ... Zoe, at which he suggested very plausibly that she should consent to live with his mistress. Even when Zoe agreed he was still not satisfied. A treaty of friendship was set out in a document and an imperial pavilion built for the ceremony of ratification. In front sat Constantine, Zoe, and Sclerena, while the Senate filed in to witness this extraordinary contract, blushing and for the most part talking in undertones. Despite their embarrassment, the senators still praised the agreement as if...
Page 78 - Christ will be born of the Virgin Mary, and I believe in him. When Constantine and Irene are emperors, the sun shall see me again.
Page 156 - ... the hands of Constantine, preferring to be relieved of all responsibilities in that direction. Nor was she interested in the things that appeal to women — looms, distaffs, wool, or weaving. One thing above all claimed her attention, and on this she expended all her enthusiasm — the offering of sacrifices to God. I am not referring so much to the sacrifice of praise, or of thanksgiving, or of penitence, but to the offering of spices and sweet herbs, the products of India and Egypt.
Page 25 - God-crowned Theodora whose mind is adorned with piety, whose constant toil lies in unsparing efforts to nourish the destitute.
Page 150 - loving-cup' and lavished on it all the other flattering epithets that deceive and cajole frivolous and emptyheaded persons. The contract being signed and the oaths administered, she who had hitherto been only a lover, was now introduced to the private apartments of the palace, no longer called 'mistress', but 'My Lady

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À propos de l'auteur (1999)

Garland is a lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of New England, New South Wales.

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