# Theodora

_9th-century Byzantine empress, wife of Theophilos_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/theodora
Last updated: 2026-11-10

> Theodora is a feminine given name, the feminine version of Theodore, from the Greek θεός theos 'god' + δῶρον doron 'gift'. Theodora is first attested in Mycenaean Greek, written in the Linear B syllabic script, as 𐀳𐀃𐀈𐀨, te-o-do-ra. The name Dorothy contains the same word elements in reverse order. It was the name of several saints and queens, including Theodora, a 6th-century Byzantine empress honored as a saint in the early Christian Church. Teodora, a variant, is among the top 10 most popular names for girls born in Serbia between 2003 and 2005.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 815 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230001#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Paphlagonia ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230001#P19))
- **Died:** 15 January 867 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230001#P570))
- **Place of death:** Constantinople ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230001#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Byzantine Empire ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230001#P27))
- **Occupation:** nun ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230001#P106))
- **Spouse:** Theophilos ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230001#P26))
- **Positions held:** regent (21 January 842 – 15 March 856); empress consort (5 June 830 – 20 January 842) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230001#P39))

## Questions

**When was Theodora born?**  
Theodora was born on 815 in Paphlagonia.

**What positions has Theodora held?**  
Positions held by Theodora include: regent (0842–0856); empress consort (0830–0842).

## Related

- [Gyanendra of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/people/gyanendra-of-nepal)
- [Ferdinand II of Aragon](https://diginpl.com/people/ferdinand-ii-of-aragon)
- [Berengaria of Castile](https://diginpl.com/people/berengaria-of-castile)
- [John II of Aragon](https://diginpl.com/people/john-ii-of-aragon)
- [Pope Adrian VI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-adrian-vi)
- [Ferdinand I of Aragon](https://diginpl.com/people/ferdinand-i-of-aragon)
- [Budashiri](https://diginpl.com/people/budashiri)
- [Irene of Athens](https://diginpl.com/people/irene-of-athens)
- [Empress Lü](https://diginpl.com/people/empress-lu)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Theodora](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodora) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q230001](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230001) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Meister von San Vitale in Ravenna 008.jpg by Meister von San Vitale in Ravenna (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meister_von_San_Vitale_in_Ravenna_008.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Theodora, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Meister von San Vitale in Ravenna 008.jpg — Meister von San Vitale in Ravenna, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Theodora". DigiNepal. Last updated 10 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/theodora. Retrieved 12 November 2026.