Theodora Palaiologina Synadene ( el, Θεοδώρα Παλαιολογίνα Συναδηνή) was the daughter of

Constantine Palaiologos Constantine XI Dragases Palaiologos or Dragaš Palaeologus ( el, Κωνσταντῖνος Δραγάσης Παλαιολόγος, ''Kōnstantînos Dragásēs Palaiológos''; 8 February 1405 – 29 May 1453) was the last Roman (Byzantine) e ...

and Irene Komnene Laskarina Branaina. Through her father, she was a half-niece of the

Byzantine Emperor This is a list of the Byzantine emperors from the foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD, which marks the conventional start of the Byzantine Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, to Fall of Constantinople, its fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. On ...

Michael VIII Palaiologos Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus ( el, Μιχαὴλ Δούκας Ἄγγελος Κομνηνὸς Παλαιολόγος, Mikhaēl Doukas Angelos Komnēnos Palaiologos; 1224 – 11 December 1282) reigned as the co-emperor of the Empire ...

Early life

Both of Theodora's parents died when she was young and unmarried, after which time she was brought up under the guardianship of her paternal half-uncle, the emperor

Michael VIII Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus ( el, Μιχαὴλ Δούκας Ἄγγελος Κομνηνὸς Παλαιολόγος, Mikhaēl Doukas Angelos Komnēnos Palaiologos; 1224 – 11 December 1282) reigned as the co-emperor of the Empire ...

.'Typikon of Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople' (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot), 8

Marriage and children

Sometime after being taken in by her half-uncle, Theodora was married to a

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...

noble named John Angelos Doukas Synadenos, by whom she had three children: * Euphrosyne Synadene. A nun. *

Theodore Synadenos Theodore Komnenos Doukas Palaiologos Synadenos ( el, Θεόδωρος Κομνηνός Δούκας Παλαιολόγος Συναδηνός,. ca. 1277 – ca. 1346), usually simply Theodore Synadenos, was a Byzantine magnate, senior official a ...

.'Typikon of Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople' (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot), 119 ''

Protostrator ''Prōtostratōr'' ( el, πρωτοστράτωρ) was a Byzantine court office, originating as the imperial stable master. Its proximity to the imperial person led to a highly visible role in imperial ceremonies, and served as a springboard for ...

''. Married Eudokia Muzakiaina (A picture of Theodore and his wife can be see
here
. * John Synadenos. ''

Megas Konostaulos ''Konostaulos'' or ''konostablos'' ("constable", in Greek variously ), later corrupted to ''kontostaulos''/''kontostablos'' (κοντόσταυλος), was a late Byzantine title, adopted from the Normans. The derivative dignity of ''megas konostaul ...

''. Married Thomais Komnene Doukaina Laskarina Kantakouzene Palaiologina.

Later life

It was not long after the death of her husband that Theodora decided to create the convent of ''Bebaia Elpis'' ("Sure Hope") in

Constantinople la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه , alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya ( Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...

, bringing her daughter, Euphrosyne, along with her.'Typikon of Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople' (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot), 8-9 Sometime in the 14th century, she wrote the ''Typicon'' of ''Bebaia Elpis'' The exact year of Theodora's death is unknown, though it was certainly in the 14th century.

Footnotes

References

* 'Typikon of Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople' (trans.

Alice-Mary Talbot Alice-Mary Talbot (born May 16, 1939) is director of Byzantine studies Emeritus, emerita, Dumbarton Oaks, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. Her particular expertise is the social context of Byzantine religious practices, including h ...

) from ''Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents: A Complete Translation of the Surviving Founder's Typika and Testaments'', Thomas, J. & Hero, A.C. (eds.) (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington D.C. 2000

* Thomas, J. & Hero, A.C., ''Byzantine Foundation Documents'' (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington D.C. 2000) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Palaiologina Synadene, Theodora Palaiologos dynasty, Theodora Greek women of the Byzantine Empire 13th-century Byzantine people 14th-century Byzantine people Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown

Theodora Theodora is a given name of Greek origin, meaning "God's gift". Theodora may also refer to: Historical figures known as Theodora Byzantine empresses * Theodora (wife of Justinian I) ( 500 – 548), saint by the Orthodox Church * Theodora o ...