Theodora was the wife of Byzantine Emperor Justinian. She is also a saint of the Orthodox Church, commemorated on November 14.

Theodora was born into what is considered to be low social standards, and her mother was an actress/dancer. She married Justinian in 522, who later became emperor in 527. She was very intelligent and influential during the time of Justinian's rule. She convinced Justinian to make a law allowing noblemen to marry lower class citizens. She also worked towards equality for women, demanding legal rights, homes for ex-prostitutes, and rights in divorce cases for women. She also was considered a cause of monophysitism*, pastorally preferring them to Chalcedonians to which she belonged. Other, less honourable acts of hers include kidnapping people she disapproved of and keeping them in a private dungeon, never to return. She died before the age of 50, from what scholars debate is breast cancer.

*Monophysitism is the belief that Christ only has one true nature (divine) as opposed to two (divine and human).