She met Justinian around 522 CE. To marry her, Justinian had his uncle, Emperor Justin I, repeal a long-standing law that forbade high-ranking officials from marrying actresses. They were married in 525 CE and crowned together in 527 CE. The Nika Riots: Saving the Empire
Empress (c. 497–548 CE) rose from the lowest social strata to become the most powerful woman in Byzantine history. As the wife and primary advisor to Emperor Justinian I , she functioned as a de facto co-ruler, profoundly shaping the legal, social, and physical landscape of the empire. The Ascent: From Circus to Crown
Born to a bear keeper at the Hippodrome in Constantinople, Theodora began her career as an actress and dancer—professions often associated with prostitution in the 6th century.