Empress
In 705, Justinian formed a new alliance with Tervel of Bulgaria. With an army of 15,000 horsemen provided by Tervel, Justinian suddenly advanced on Constantinople and managed to gain entrance into the city. Deposing Tiberios III and succeeding him in the process. Theodora was the new Empress consort but was still in the custody of her brother.
According to the chronicle of Theophanes and the Chronographikon syntomon of Ecumenical Patriarch Nikephoros I of Constantinople, Justinian was planning to reclaim his wife by force. In 705/706, a detachment of the Byzantine navy was sent to the Sea of Azov with the mission to escort Theodora back to her husband. However they encountered a storm and sank before reaching their destination.
Busir corresponded with his brother-in-law and informed him that war was unnecessary. He was free to reclaim Theodora as soon as he sent emissaries to escort her. According to Theophanes, Busir also informed Justinian of the existence of his son, Tiberios. Theophylaktos, a koubikoularios, was sent to retrieve Theodora and her son. Theodora arrived to Constantinople with no further incident and was crowned Augusta. Tiberios was crowned co-emperor to secure his succession rights.
Read more about this topic: Theodora Of Khazaria
Famous quotes containing the word empress:
“We never really are the adults we pretend to be. We wear the mask and perhaps the clothes and posture of grown-ups, but inside our skin we are never as wise or as sure or as strong as we want to convince ourselves and others we are. We may fool all the rest of the people all of the time, but we never fool our parents. They can see behind the mask of adulthood. To her mommy and daddy, the empress never has on any clothes—and knows it.”
—Frank Pittman (20th century)
“The Empress is Legitimist, my cousin is Republican, Morny is Orleanist, I am a socialist; the only Bonapartist is Persigny, and he is mad.”
—Napoleon Bonaparte III (1808–1873)