Theodora AD 1055-1056. Constantinople
Histamenon Nomisma AV

25 mm, 4,39 g

IҺS XIS RЄX RЄGNANTIҺM, Christ standing facing on souppedion, wearing nimbus crown, pallium and colobium, holding Gospels in both hands / + θЄOΔƜPA AVΓOVCTA, Theodora, to left, wearing crown, saccos and loros, and the Virgin, on right, nimbate and clad in pallium and maphorium, with M and Θ across shoulders, both standing facing, holding between them labarum with pellet on shaft.

Extremely Fine

Sear 1837.

Empress Theodora reigned as the sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire from AD 1055 to 1056. She was the youngest daughter of Emperor Constantine VIII and the sister of Empress Zoë, placing her within the prestigious Macedonian dynasty, which had ruled Byzantium since the late 9th century. Theodora first held power briefly in AD 1042 when she co-ruled with her sister Zoë after the overthrow of Michael V. However, Zoë soon married Constantine IX Monomachos, sidelining Theodora from politics. After Constantine IX's death in AD 1055, Theodora, despite being elderly and without heirs, was recalled to the throne due to the lack of a clear successor and the influence of the court factions that wanted to preserve the legitimacy of the Macedonian dynasty. As empress, Theodora was known for her firm and independent rule. She resisted pressure to marry or appoint a co-emperor, determined to maintain full control over the empire. Her administration focused on consolidating imperial authority and curbing the power of the aristocracy and the military elite. She promoted capable officials from the civil bureaucracy rather than relying on the traditional noble families, continuing the policies of centralization that had characterized the Macedonian dynasty. Despite her brief reign, Theodora managed to maintain internal stability and uphold the empire’s administrative functions. However, her refusal to name an heir created political uncertainty. In AD 1056, Theodora fell seriously ill and, under pressure from her advisors, reluctantly named Michael VI Bringas, a senior court official, as her successor. She died shortly after, in late AD 1056, ending the Macedonian dynasty’s direct rule. Theodora’s coinage reflected traditional imperial iconography, often depicting her crowned and wearing imperial robes, holding the cross scepter and globus cruciger, symbols of divine authority and sovereignty. These coins reinforced her legitimacy as the rightful ruler in a male-dominated political environment. Her reign, though short, is remembered for preserving the authority of the Byzantine state during a critical transition period. After her death, the empire gradually entered a phase of decline, marked by internal conflict and external threats.