# Theodora — The Secret History character guide

> Theodora in The Secret History by Procopius.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** the Empress Theodora, the cancerous Theodora, Empress

**First appearance:** 0002-the-secret-history

## Snapshot

A former courtesan who rises to empress and rules with a cruelty that makes her husband's worst instincts look almost passive.

## Who they are

Theodora enters the palace over every obstacle of birth and reputation, and once there she governs through fear, favor, and rumored sorcery. She shields the vicious Peter Barsyames because his wickedness mirrors her own, and she treats honest officials like John of Palestine as insults to be removed. Her bond with Justinian — part passion, part demoniac hold — makes her the true hinge of the court, and her reach extends into Belisarius's household through Antonina.

## Relationships

### [Justinian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/justinian)

_romantic_

Justinian and Theodora are married, with a deeply intertwined and passionate but often manipulative partnership.

### [Belisarius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/belisarius)

_professional_

Belisarius is a general serving Empress Theodora, who both relies on and ruthlessly manipulates him for her own ends.

### [Germanus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/germanus)

_rivalry_

Germanus, a powerful general and relative of Justinian, is a political rival and object of suspicion for Theodora.

### [Justin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/justin)

_family_

Justin is Theodora's father-in-law and emperor, with a strained relationship due to her low-born origins and influence.

### [Antonina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/antonina)

_friendship_

Antonina is Theodora's closest friend and confidante, often acting as her agent in court intrigues.

### [Peter Barsyames](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/peter_barsyames)

_professional_

Peter Barsyames is a corrupt official and treasurer who serves as Theodora's loyal and ruthless instrument.

### [John the Cappadocian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/john_the_cappadocian)

_rivalry_

John the Cappadocian, a powerful minister, is a bitter political enemy of Theodora, whom she eventually destroys.

### [Procopius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/procopius)

_psychological_

Procopius, the author, harbors a deep-seated hatred and obsession with Theodora, portraying her as a demonic figure.

### [Saturninus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/saturninus)

_professional_

Saturninus is a minor official or agent who carries out tasks for Theodora, likely as a spy or messenger.

### [Justin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/justin)

_family_

Justin is Theodora's father-in-law and emperor, with a strained relationship due to her low-born origins and influence.

## In the story

### [Foreword by the Historian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/foreword-by-the-historian)

Along with Justinian, her depravity is a key subject of the secret history.

### [The Secret History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/the-secret-history)

Portrayed as a manipulative and cruel empress who persecutes opponents and tortures enemies.

### [How the Great General Belisarius Was Hoodwinked by His Wife, Whose Lover Became a Monk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/i-how-the-great-general-belisarius-was-hoodwinked-by-his-wife-whose-lover-became-a-monk)

The Empress, initially feared by Antonina but later befriended after Antonina helps destroy Silverius and John the Cappadocian.

### [II: How Belated Jealousy Affected Belisarius’s Military Judgment, to the Joy of the Enemy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/ii-how-belated-jealousy-affected-belisarius-s-military-judgment-to-the-joy-of-the-enemy)

Wrote a letter to Zaberganes expressing esteem and suggesting peace, which Chosroes uses to quell mutiny.

### [III: Showing the Danger of Interfering with a Woman’s Intrigues, Especially When the Woman Is the Friend of an Empress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/iii-showing-the-danger-of-interfering-with-a-woman-s-intrigues-especially-when-the-woman-is-the-friend-of-an-empress)

Hides Theodosius, tortures Photius and Belisarius's friends, forces Belisarius to reconcile with Antonina.

### [How Theodora, Revenging Her Dear Antonina, Humiliated the Conqueror of Africa and Italy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/iv-how-theodora-revenging-her-dear-antonina-humiliated-the-conqueror-of-africa-and-italy)

Revenges Antonina by imprisoning Buzes, deposing Belisarius, confiscating his wealth, and orchestrating his public degradation.

### [How Theodora Tricked the General’s Daughter Into a Liaison with the Empress’s Nephew, and Belisarius Became a Public Laughing Stock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/v-how-theodora-tricked-the-general-s-daughter-into-a-liaison-with-the-empress-s-nephew-and-belisarius-became-a-public-laughing-stock)

Forces Belisarius's daughter into a liaison with her nephew Anastasius to secure his wealth; also threatens John and protects Sergius from punishment.

### [IX: And How Theodora, Most Depraved of All Courtesans, Won His Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/ix-and-how-theodora-most-depraved-of-all-courtesans-won-his-love)

Portrayed as a depraved courtesan from childhood, engaging in prostitution and scandalous stage acts before winning Justinian's love.

### [X: How Justinian Created a New Law Permitting Him to Marry a Courtesan on Her Promise to Repent Her Past; and the Truth About the Apparent Quarrels of a Happy Pair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/x-how-justinian-created-a-new-law-permitting-him-to-marry-a-courtesan-on-her-promise-to-repent-her-past-and-the-truth-about-the-apparent-quarrels-of-a-happy-pair)

Former courtesan, now empress; feigns support for the Blues and pretends to oppose Justinian to confuse the public.

### [XII: Proving That Justinian and Theodora Were Actually Fiends in Human Form](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xii-proving-that-justinian-and-theodora-were-actually-fiends-in-human-form)

Portrayed as a fiendish partner in crime, involved in confiscating property and rumored to have a demonic lover and a dream of marrying the King of the Devils.

### [XIII: Deceptive Affability and Piety of a Tyrant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xiii-deceptive-affability-and-piety-of-a-tyrant)

Described as sharing Justinian's desires for slaughter and destruction, manipulating him through promises of profit.

### [XIV: Justice for Sale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xiv-justice-for-sale)

Mentioned as sharing decision-making power with Justinian, overriding the Senate.

### [XV: How an Roman Citizens Became Slaves, and a Complaining Patrician Was Ribaldly Mocked by Theodora’s Eunuchs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xv-how-an-roman-citizens-became-slaves-and-a-complaining-patrician-was-ribaldly-mocked-by-theodora-s-eunuchs)

Depicted as inhuman, vengeful, and tyrannical; she mocks a patrician and controls the court with cruelty.

### [XVI: What Happened to Those Who Fell Out of Favor with Theodora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xvi-what-happened-to-those-who-fell-out-of-favor-with-theodora)

The Empress who orchestrates the murder of Amalasuntha, forces Priscus into priesthood, tortures and kills Basanius, and attempts to destroy Diogenes.

### [XVII: How She Saved Five Hundred Harlots from a Life of Sin, Made Away with Her Own Natural Son, and Other Curious Incidents of Her Passion for Match Making](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xvii-how-she-saved-five-hundred-harlots-from-a-life-of-sin-made-away-with-her-own-natural-son-and-other-curious-incidents-of-her-passion-for-match-making)

Exercises tyrannical control over marriages, punishes opponents, crucifies Governor Callinicus, confines harlots, and murders her own son John to conceal her past.

### [XXII: Further Corruption in High Places](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxii-further-corruption-in-high-places)

Delighted by Peter's wickedness, protects him from removal, believed to use magic to control Justinian.

### [XXIII: How Landowners Were Ruined](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxiii-how-landowners-were-ruined)

Mentioned alongside Justinian as co-ruler under whose reign there was no release from war or calamity.

### [XXV: How He Robbed His Own Officials, Merchants, Sailors, Workmen, and Everybody Else](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxv-how-he-robbed-his-own-officials-merchants-sailors-workmen-and-everybody-else)

Collaborates with Justinian in debasing coinage and uses spies to confiscate silk merchants' goods.

### [XXVI: How He Spoiled the Beauty of the Cities and Plundered the Poor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxvi-how-he-spoiled-the-beauty-of-the-cities-and-plundered-the-poor)

Mentioned as the wife who was born, bred, and educated in theaters, hippodromes, and circuses, which were later discontinued by Justinian.

### [XXVII: How the Defender of the Faith Protected the Interests of the Christians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxvii-how-the-defender-of-the-faith-protected-the-interests-of-the-christians)

Pretends to disagree with Justinian in religious matters; instigates Justinian's horror at Paul's actions; orders Liberius to crucify Arsenius.

### [XXX: Further Innovations of Justinian and Theodora, and a Conclusion Which Imagines the Death of an Emperor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xxx-further-innovations-of-justinian-and-theodora-and-a-conclusion-which-imagines-the-death-of-an-emperor)

Shared in the new homage rituals, received barbarian ambassadors, and demanded to be addressed as 'Your Majesty' or 'Your Highness'.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/endnotes)

Plotted against John of Cappadocia using Antonina; suffered from cancer and feared death; her nephew Anastasius is discussed; performed a burlesque of Leda and the Swan.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters/theodora
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/characters