Theophano (c. 940–?)

Byzantine empress. Name variations: Theophano of Byzantium. Born around 940 (some sources cite 941) in Constantinople; died after 976; daughter of Anastaso (a publican); became second wife of Romanos or Romanus II, Byzantine emperor (r. 959–963), around 956; married Nicephorus II Phocas or Nikephoros II Phokas, Byzantine emperor (r. 963–969); children: (first marriage) Theophano of Byzantium (c. 955–991); Basil II (957–1025), Byzantine emperor (r. 976–1025); Constantine VIII (c. 960–1028), Byzantine emperor (r. 1025–1028); Anna of Byzantium (963–1011, who married Vladimir I, grand-duke of Kiev, around 989).

The daughter of an innkeeper, Theophano was beautiful enough to catch the eye of Romanus II (the son of the Byzantine emperor, Constantine VII), whom she married about 955. It is alleged that Theophano persuaded Romanus to poison his father, so that he could ascend the throne. Theophano became the power behind Romanus, inciting him to place his five sisters (including Agatha and Theodora [fl. late 900s]) in convents and to break with his mother Helena Lekapena , so that she would face no opposition from the women of Romanus' family. Having established herself at court, Theophano is said to have lived a dissolute life. Romanus was an ineffective ruler who died in 963, but he had four children with Theophano: Basil (II), Constantine (VIII), Theophano of Byzantium , and Anna of Byzantium .

Anna of Byzantium (963–1011)

Grand-duchess of Kiev. Born on March 13, 963; died in 1011; daughter of Theophano (c. 940–?) and Romanus II, Byzantine emperor (r. 959–963); sister of Constantine VIII (r. 1025–1028) and Basil II (r. 976–1025), both Byzantine emperors, and Theophano of Byzantium (c. 955–991); married Vladimir I, grand-duke of Kiev, around 989; children: St. Gleb; St. Boris; and one daughter.

Soon after the death of Romanus, Theophano married Nicephorus (II) Phocas and was germinal in his elevation to the imperial office. Nicephorus' accession was opposed (even though his previous military career had been very distinguished) by many who suspected that Theophano may have played an unsavory role in Romanus' passing. Nevertheless, she was officially established as the regent for her young sons, Basil and Constantine. Her new marriage is alleged to have disappointed Theophano, for Nicephorus was said to have lived too spartan a life for her lavish tastes. How much truth there was in these allegations cannot be determined, for they may be—at least in part—nothing more than the scurrilous smears of political enemies. It is reported that as a result of her frustrations, Theophano plotted the assassination of Nicephorus with John Tzimiskes (Nicephorus' cousin), a deed carried out in 969. Theophano is said to have offered John both marriage and the throne, but the intense opposition of the patriarch of Constantinople (Polyeuctus), who charged her with murder and adultery among other crimes, caused John both to repudiate her and to commit her to a convent. There Theophano remained until recalled to Constantinople in 976 in the midst of the contested accession of her son, Basil.

Theophano's sons both ruled as Byzantine emperors. Basil II the Bulgar-slayer (d. 1025) was one of the Byzantine Empire's greatest rulers, although Constantine VIII (d. 1028) was somewhat more pleasure loving and far less noteworthy than his older brother. If Basil's vigor and skill were inherited from but one of his parents, it is certain that he owed a debt to Theophano rather than to Romanus. Theophano's daughters were shrewdly exploited to extend vastly the range of Byzantine influence: Theophano of Byzantium married the Holy Roman (in fact, German) emperor, Otto II, while Anna of Byzantium wed Vladimir I of Kiev, after he agreed to be baptized, thus expanding the range of Christianity farther east than ever before. Both of these unions helped to secure for a time Byzantium's northern frontier. When Theophano died is unknown, but it is likely that the last years of her life were spent with her reputation more or less officially intact.

William Greenwalt , Associate Professor of Classical History, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California