Sophia

530 – 601 · Generation X · Empress · Justinian

Sophia was the wife of the emperor Justin II and one of the most politically active empresses of Byzantium. Born about 530, she was a niece of the empress Theodora, perhaps through Theodora’s sister Comito and the general Sittas, and Theodora may have arranged her marriage to Justin, a nephew of Justinian I. According to John of Ephesus, she and Justin were at first Monophysites who converted to the Chalcedonian faith to win their uncle’s favour.

When Justinian died in November 565, Justin was proclaimed in the palace before the rest of the family knew, and his accession speech spoke of Sophia ruling with him. She took the name Aelia, and she was the first empress shown on the coinage with insignia equal to the emperor’s. A rival cousin, also called Justin, was exiled and murdered in 568, according to John of Biclaro by her supporters.

From late 573 Justin suffered fits of insanity, and Sophia governed with Tiberius, the commander of the guard, until 578, taking a close interest in finance and foreign affairs. Justin made Tiberius co-emperor in 578, but after Justin’s death she and Tiberius II clashed over money, and she refused to receive his wife Ino Anastasia and their daughters at the palace. The last record of her is an Easter crown she and Ino gave to the emperor Maurice in 601.

Place in the family

Sophia married Justin II, a nephew of Justinian I.

One of 9 people of Justinian (518–602) in this archive. Justinian and Theodora’s house, which rebuilt the law and reached back into the west.

Partners

Married Justin II (520 – 578)

Sources

Sophia (empress) · Wikipedia
Justin II · Wikipedia