The Tudor's Dynasty podcast.

Hello and welcome back to the show. I'm Rebecca Larson.

Empress Theodora and Lola Montez, those separated by centuries, both defied societal expectations to rise from scandal to influence.

Using their intelligence, boldness, and charisma, they transform their controversial

paths into power. Theodora as a Byzantine empress, shaping imperial law, and Lola as a fiery

performer influencing European politics. Their stories highlight the enduring strength of women who

challenged the roles they were given. One thing we must keep in mind while we talk about Theodora

is that all the information we have on her comes from male historians and authors of her time period.

For example, one major source dating back to the Byzantine Empire is the secret history,

written by Procopius Caesarea.

Any woman who stepped outside the bounds of traditional submissive roles in her society was almost certain to be harshly vilified.

The book portrays Theodora as a temptress and whore, while also calling Justinian a rampant tyrant king of corruption.

This text was not actually supposed to be published. He wrote lots of different texts

about the famed couple, which cast them in a good light. At the time of its original publication,

not many copies were made, but in modern times is Procopius's most popular text.

We may think we know who Theodora and Emperor Justin Inean were, but what we're really seeing

is a reflection of how threatening a powerful, outspoken woman was to the patriarchal norms of her time.

Little is known about Theodora's childhood. Born in the late 5th century, C.E., she was one of

three daughters of Acacius, a bearkeeper at the Hippodrome, Circus, in Constantinople.

The hippodrome that Theodora was raised in was the beating

heart of Constantinople during the Byzantine era. Built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Septimius

Severus in the 3rd century C.E., it was an arena of spectacle, passion, and power.

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