Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.
Theodora was chosen as Empress by Emperor Theophilos through a traditional arranged marriage process.
Answer: False
Explanation: Emperor Theophilos selected Theodora through a bride-show, a process distinct from a more general 'traditional arranged marriage process'.
Emperor Theophilos shared Theodora's iconophile beliefs throughout his reign.
Answer: False
Explanation: Emperor Theophilos was an iconoclast, opposing the veneration of icons, while Theodora was an iconophile. The extent to which he was aware of her private beliefs is not definitively stated.
Emperor Theophilos reportedly ordered Theodora's merchant ship to be burned because he approved of her business activities.
Answer: False
Explanation: Emperor Theophilos reportedly ordered Theodora's merchant ship burned because he disapproved of her engaging in merchant activities, deeming it incompatible with imperial status.
The bride-show context involved the poet Kassia, whom Theophilos rejected after a sharp exchange.
Answer: True
Explanation: During the bride-show, Theophilos rejected the poet Kassia after a sharp exchange, opting instead for Theodora.
Who was Theodora's husband, the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire during her time as consort?
Answer: Theophilos
What event led to Theodora becoming Empress consort in 830?
Answer: She was chosen by Emperor Theophilos in a bride-show.
Which statement accurately describes Emperor Theophilos's religious stance compared to Theodora's?
Answer: Theophilos was an iconoclast, while Theodora was an iconophile.
Empress Theodora was the wife of Emperor Leo V and regent for her son Michael III.
Answer: False
Explanation: Empress Theodora was the wife of Emperor Theophilos, not Leo V. She served as regent for her son, Michael III, following Theophilos's death.
Theodora and Emperor Theophilos had only two children, including the future Emperor Michael III.
Answer: False
Explanation: Theodora and Emperor Theophilos had seven children, not two. Michael III was one of their sons.
Theodora managed the empire's finances poorly, leading to a significant budget deficit.
Answer: False
Explanation: Theodora managed the empire's finances effectively, maintaining a small budget surplus and modestly increasing gold reserves.
Theoktistos, a key advisor to Theodora, was assassinated in 855.
Answer: True
Explanation: Theoktistos, a prominent advisor and confidant to Theodora, was assassinated in November 855.
Coins issued during Theodora's regency primarily depicted only her son, Michael III.
Answer: False
Explanation: Coins issued during Theodora's regency often depicted her prominently alongside her son Michael III and daughter Thekla, establishing her authority.
Theodora's step-mother, Euphrosyne, secretly instructed Theodora's daughters in icon veneration.
Answer: True
Explanation: Theodora's step-mother, Euphrosyne, retired to a monastery and secretly instructed Theodora's daughters in icon veneration.
Theodora ensured her children were raised as iconoclasts, aligning with their father's beliefs.
Answer: False
Explanation: Theodora secretly ensured her children were taught to venerate icons, contrary to their father's iconoclast beliefs.
Theodora's brother, Bardas, was exiled and never returned to influence imperial politics.
Answer: False
Explanation: Theodora's brother Bardas was initially exiled but later recalled and became influential in imperial politics, eventually conspiring with Michael III.
Theodora was enraged by the assassination of Theoktistos and publicly blamed Michael III.
Answer: True
Explanation: Theodora was deeply angered by the assassination of her key advisor Theoktistos and publicly confronted Michael III about his involvement.
Theodora's brother Petronas remained loyal to her throughout her regency.
Answer: True
Explanation: Theodora's brother Petronas served as her advisor and remained loyal throughout her regency.
How did Theodora manage the empire's finances during her regency?
Answer: She maintained a small budget surplus and increased gold reserves.
Who was Theoktistos, a key figure during Theodora's regency?
Answer: A prominent advisor and confidant to Theodora
Which of Theodora's brothers conspired with Michael III to assassinate Theoktistos?
Answer: Bardas
What was the primary reason for Michael III deposing his mother, Theodora?
Answer: Michael III wanted to rule independently and resented her influence.
Theodora's most significant achievement was ending the second period of Byzantine Iconoclasm in 843.
Answer: True
Explanation: Theodora is most renowned for her pivotal role in restoring the veneration of icons in 843, thereby concluding the second period of Byzantine Iconoclasm.
The Council of Constantinople in 843 was convened by Patriarch Methodios I to restore icon veneration.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Council of Constantinople in 843 was convened by Empress Theodora, not Patriarch Methodios I, to restore icon veneration.
Theodora replaced the iconoclast Patriarch John VII with another iconoclast patriarch.
Answer: False
Explanation: Theodora replaced the iconoclast Patriarch John VII with the iconophile Patriarch Methodios I.
As a symbolic act after restoring icons, Theodora ordered the tomb of Empress Irene to be desecrated.
Answer: False
Explanation: The tomb of the iconoclast Emperor Constantine V was desecrated and replaced with that of Empress Irene, not the other way around.
Theodora ordered the execution of the Paulicians, a group known for their iconoclasm.
Answer: True
Explanation: Following the restoration of icons, Theodora ordered the Byzantine army to forcefully convert or execute the Paulicians, a dualist and iconoclast group.
What was Empress Theodora's most significant religious accomplishment?
Answer: Ending the second Byzantine Iconoclasm by restoring icon veneration
What was the significance of the Council of Constantinople in 843?
Answer: It officially restored the veneration of icons, ending the second Iconoclasm.
Who did Theodora appoint as the iconophile Patriarch of Constantinople, replacing John VII?
Answer: Methodios I
What symbolic action was performed at the Church of the Holy Apostles to signify the end of Iconoclasm?
Answer: The tomb of Emperor Constantine V was desecrated and replaced with that of Empress Irene.
The Byzantine attempt to recapture Crete during Theodora's regency was successful.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Byzantine attempt to recapture Crete during Theodora's regency was ultimately unsuccessful, resulting in defeat by Arab forces.
Theodora's reign saw the Byzantine Empire gain the upper hand against the Bulgarian Empire and the Abbasid Caliphate.
Answer: True
Explanation: By 856, Theodora's foreign policy had positioned the Byzantine Empire favorably against both the Bulgarian Empire and the Abbasid Caliphate.
Which of the following was a military setback for the Byzantine Empire during Theodora's regency?
Answer: The loss of most of Sicily
The Byzantine raid on which Egyptian city in 853 was a successful retaliation during Theodora's rule?
Answer: Damietta
Theodora's foreign policy during her regency resulted in Slavic tribes in which region being compelled to pay tribute?
Answer: The Peloponnese
What was the outcome of the sack of Anazarbus in 855 during Theodora's rule?
Answer: It was a successful Byzantine military action and retaliation.
Theodora's regency ended when she voluntarily abdicated power to her son Michael III in 856.
Answer: False
Explanation: Theodora's regency ended when her son Michael III deposed her in 856, not through voluntary abdication.
After her deposition, Theodora retired to a palace in Constantinople and continued to influence politics.
Answer: False
Explanation: After her deposition, Theodora was confined to a convent in Gastria and did not continue to influence politics.
Theodora died shortly after her son Michael III ascended the throne.
Answer: False
Explanation: Theodora died around 867 CE, likely after Michael III had already been ruling independently for some time and was assassinated.
Theodora was deposed by her brother Bardas, who then seized power.
Answer: False
Explanation: Theodora was deposed by her son Michael III, with the involvement of her brother Bardas, not by Bardas seizing power himself.
What event marked the end of Theodora's regency in 856?
Answer: Her deposition by her son Michael III.
What was the context of Theodora's final years and reconciliation with Michael III?
Answer: They reportedly reconciled shortly before their deaths.
Theodora is honored as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church for her role in restoring icons.
Answer: True
Explanation: Theodora is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, primarily for her pivotal role in restoring the veneration of icons.
The "Triumph of Orthodoxy" commemorates the end of Byzantine Iconoclasm, a key achievement of Empress Theodora.
Answer: True
Explanation: The "Triumph of Orthodoxy" refers to the restoration of icon veneration, a key achievement attributed to Empress Theodora's efforts.
The source suggests Theodora might have admired which previous powerful female ruler?
Answer: Irene of Athens
Theodora was born in Paphlagonia and is believed to have been of Armenian descent.
Answer: True
Explanation: Theodora was born in Ebissa, Paphlagonia, and her family is generally believed to have been of Armenian descent.