Empress Faustina the Elder

"Archaeology" - a US publication - ran a story on the recent discovery of a "colossal" head of the Roman Empress, Faustina the Elder.

Faustina's likeness has appeared on many items, from statues to coins.
"The find was made almost exactly one year after we discovered the remains of a colossal (ca. 5 m; 16 foot) statue of the emperor Hadrian (A.D. 117-138) at a spot about 6 m (20 feet) away."


From the article:
"Antoninus Pius married the daughter of a family friend from Ucibe (in Baetica, Spain), Annius Verus, who through her marriage (at the age of ten !) would become the empress Annia Galeria Faustina (the Elder). In contrast with the messy marriage of Hadrian and Sabina, the Elder Faustina and Antoninus Pius had a happy marriage, lasting 31 years until Faustina's death in A.D. 141. While adopting Antoninus Pius as his son and successor, Hadrian tried to assure the dynasty's future by forcing him to adopt two sons. These were Faustina's brother's son M. Annius Verus, who would rule as Marcus Aurelius and marry Faustina's daughter the Younger Faustina, and the son of Aelius Caesar, L. Ceionius Commodus, better known as Lucius Verus, who would marry Marcus Aurelius' daughter Lucilla."


Faustina the Elder - from wiki
Antoninus Pius - Roman Emperors' site
"The Antonines: The Roman Empire in Transition" by Michael Grant (Pub: Routledge, 1996)

Pulcheria

Empress of the Eastern Empire (Constantinople)

Daughter of the Eastern Emperor Arcadius and the Empress Eudoxia. She was the sister of Theodosius and Eudoxia.

At the age of 15 (414) her father died and her brother succeeded as Theodosius II. But her brother was weak and Pulchera took over the regency and was herself proclaimed Augusta. Pulchera was present when her brother received their aunt Galla Placida and her two children (421), and though Galla was disliked and distrusted by Theodosius, she was granted imperial rank (423). Theodosius then organized an invasion of the Western Empire (424). Pulchera was virtual ruler of the Eastern Empire until she was ousted from favour by intrigue (442/443).

Though a Christian by birth, Pulchera was educated in the pagan tradition; she was an intelligent woman, speaking fluent Greek and Latin and had a deep interest in medicine and natural science.

The Emperor Theodosius died (450) and aged 51, Pulchera took control of the government of the Eastern Empire. She then married Marcian, Army Chief of Staff, and named him co-Emperor (despite the fact that she had taken a vow of perpetual virginity and said would never marry). Pulchera died a few years later aged 54 (453) and in her will she left vast estates to the poor.

~~~ Melisende (first pub: 1998 Women of History)

Maria of Antioch

(dc.1182)

Empress of Byzantium

Maria was the daughter of Constance of Antioch (d.1162) and Raymond of Poitiers (d.1149), sister of Bohemond II, Prince of Antioch and Baldwin, and was cousin of King Baldwin III of Jerusalem (d.1162). Maria was famed for her beauty, rivalled only by Melisende of Tripoli. A marriage alliance was sought between Antioch and Constantinolpe, and Maria was married to Emperor Manuel (Dec.1160).

Unfortunately for her, Maria was not popular and was disliked by people of Constantinople as a Latin (they being Greek). After the death of Manuel (1180), Maria was regent for her son Alexius II (1180 - 1182). It was during this time that Maria took a lover, her advisor Alexius Comnenus.

But Maria's regency was opposed by her stepdaughter Maria Comnena (daughter of Manuel by a former wife) and her husband Ranier of Montferrat (brother of Conrad, who married Isabella, Queen of Jerusalem). Maria begged for aid from her brother-in-law Bela III of Hungary - but this was not forthcoming.

Andronicus Comnenus was sent for by popular acclaim and was crowned co-Emperor. He eventually assumed total control of Constaninople. Maria was condemned to be strangled, her son forced to sign the warrant by new Emperor Andronicus. Her son was murdered two months later (1182).

~~~ Melisende (first pub: 1998 Women of History)

Zoe

Zoe
Empress of Byzantium

Zoe was the younger daughter of Emperor Constantine VIII, the younger sister of Theodora. When her 68yo father (1028) died, 42yo Zoe succeeded the the Byzantine throne. Zoe married 60yo Romanus III Argyropolus and made him co-emperor. The marriage lasted barely six years before Zoe poisoned her husband (1034) and married the epileptic weakling Michael IV Paphiagonian. Constantinolpe was jointly ruled by Zoe and Michael until Michael asserted himeself (1041) and had Zoe cloistered (1042).

This enforced retirement/confinement was shortlived as the Byzantine nobles rebelled against Michael. Zoe was released from her confinement, and Michael was himself cloistered in a monastery by the nobles. Zoe now ruled jointly with her older sister Theodora (1042).

Zoe married again, this time to Constantine IX Monomachus aged 42, and both reign till her death aged 50 (1050). Zoe was succeeded in Byzantium by Constantine IX Monomachus, who then ruled jointly with her sister Theodora.

~~~ Melisende (first pub:1998 - Women of History)

Irene

Empress Irene
(752-803)

Athenian wife of Emperor Leo IV (r.775-780) (Kazan). Irene dominated her husband, whom she married when she was aged 17 and poor. Following the death of Leo (780), her 10yo son succeeded as Constantine VI (dc.797) - Irene acted as regent and totally dominated the young Constantine.

She restored image worship, she chose her son's wife and forced him to marry. Irene generally undermined Constantine's authority when he tried to push her aside. Fed up with her son's behaviour towards her, Irene deposed her son (797) - he was seized, flogged and blinded. Irene began her reign as the first Byzantine Empress. Irene did not recognise Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor (800). After the death of his wife Liutgard (800), Charlemagne sought her hand in marriage - but nothing came out of this proposal.

However, the life of an Empress was not all a bed of roses. Revolts against her rule broke out and Irene was deposed by the leading Patricians (802). Irene was then exiled to island of Lesbos, where she supported herself by spinning. Irene died the following year died (803) and her former finance minister succeeded as Emperor Nicephorus I (d.811).

~~~ Melisende (first pub: 1998 - Women of History)