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Women in Purple

Rulers of Medieval Byzantium

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In the eighth and ninth centuries, three Byzantine empresses—Irene, Euphrosyne, and Theodora—transformed history by restoring the veneration of icons, which saved Byzantium from a purely symbolic art and ensured its lasting influence. This engaging account reveals how these remarkable women skillfully exercised imperial sovereignty, often employing ruthless tactics. Gaining access to the Byzantine ruling dynasty through marriage, they continued to wield significant power as widows, governing from Constantinople and undermining rivals. They conducted diplomacy with figures like Charlemagne, Roman popes, and the Arab caliph Harun al Rashid. Rejecting the iconoclasm imposed by their male relatives, Irene and Theodora utilized their influence to restore holy images to the Eastern Church, profoundly altering history. The artistic and cultural landscape of Byzantium, Islam, and the West would have been vastly different without their contributions. Judith Herrin draws on new research to evoke the rich and complex world of Constantinople following the Arab conquest, highlighting its monuments, court rituals, and the roles of eunuchs and influential monks. Written for a general audience, this work reshapes our understanding of an empire that spanned a millennium and illuminates the relationship between women and power.

Acquisto del libro

Women in Purple, Judith Herrin

Lingua
Pubblicato
2002
Rilegatura
(In brossura)
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Metodi di pagamento

Titolo
Women in Purple
Sottotitolo
Rulers of Medieval Byzantium
Lingua
Inglese
Editore
Phoenix
Pubblicato
2002
Formato
In brossura
Pagine
320
ISBN10
184212529X
ISBN13
9781842125298
Serie
Descrizione
In the eighth and ninth centuries, three Byzantine empresses—Irene, Euphrosyne, and Theodora—transformed history by restoring the veneration of icons, which saved Byzantium from a purely symbolic art and ensured its lasting influence. This engaging account reveals how these remarkable women skillfully exercised imperial sovereignty, often employing ruthless tactics. Gaining access to the Byzantine ruling dynasty through marriage, they continued to wield significant power as widows, governing from Constantinople and undermining rivals. They conducted diplomacy with figures like Charlemagne, Roman popes, and the Arab caliph Harun al Rashid. Rejecting the iconoclasm imposed by their male relatives, Irene and Theodora utilized their influence to restore holy images to the Eastern Church, profoundly altering history. The artistic and cultural landscape of Byzantium, Islam, and the West would have been vastly different without their contributions. Judith Herrin draws on new research to evoke the rich and complex world of Constantinople following the Arab conquest, highlighting its monuments, court rituals, and the roles of eunuchs and influential monks. Written for a general audience, this work reshapes our understanding of an empire that spanned a millennium and illuminates the relationship between women and power.