When faced with death, this Byzantine emperor was a cowardly figure. The same could not be said of his wife, during a revolt in Constantinople in the year 532, he was ready to make a run for it, but the audacious empress implored him to stay to save his reign. She arose from her throne and uttered the phrase “If you wish to save yourself, my lord, there is no difficulty… As for me, I agree with the saying that royal purple is the noblest shroud”. But she had not always been so majestic. Born in the hippodrome to a bear keeper and actress, she came from the lowest rung of society. Nonetheless, her involvement with politics began at an early age. Her family were members of the Green faction, supporters of the corresponding Green hippodrome team, whose followers from the working classes possessed a degree of political influence. Their rivals were the “Blues”, a team backed by the upper and ruling classes, who also held considerable political everage. If you heard our last podcast or read the title of this episode, then you know our couple this week is Justinian & Theodora.