Women in Byzantine Empire

Women in the Byzantine Empire (4th-65438+5th century) belonged to the upper class, and were mainly expected to manage the family and raise children, while those who had to work and live for most of their lives worked in industries ranging from manufacturing to hotels. Although they are a minority, some women do manage to transcend the restrictions imposed on them by the male-dominated culture and become very successful businesswomen, writers, philosophers, and even as regents or queens who rule in their own right. These paintings include Empress Theodora, Irene and Zoe, Biography of Anna Komeneos, Philosopher Hipatia, and Poet Casia.

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Unlike many other medieval cultures, Byzantine history was written by people themselves at that time, and it was almost completely focused on the exaggerated behaviors and misdemeanors of the emperor, as well as independent and equally problematic documents about the debate between saints and religious teachings. Social history is almost completely ignored. Regrettably, the research left by modern historians is not enough to fully reconstruct the class relations, family life and economy of Byzantine history. As historian C. Mango sadly summed up:

There is almost no hope to increase this kind of poor and random materials, nor can it make up for the problem of almost no stone carvings, because classical antiquities have provided such a rich source of information for society, system and religion. (8)

Another difficulty, which is also common in ancient society, is that information sources are almost always written by people according to their own opinions and prejudices. Nevertheless, we must make full use of what we have. We can make many useful observations on the role of women in Byzantine society by piecing together indirect reference materials, colorful biographies of famous women, sometimes women's own literary works and descriptions of women in Byzantine society. Art and so on.

The role of aristocratic women

Like most ancient cultures, the women we know best in Byzantium belong to the upper class. However, as the historian L. Garland has summarized, for centuries, an event that has had a great impact on the status of Christianity in Byzantine society is:

..... Women's choices developed throughout the empire, while still reflecting the provisions of Roman law and long-standing customs. Christian values are more widely accepted. As celibacy and chastity are regarded as ideal lifestyles, women increasingly regard chastity as a choice. Many girls in the 4th and 5th centuries entered monasteries or, more commonly, lived alone at home. The church made "orders" for virgins to support these girls, just like widows. However, marriage is still the norm, and most women in Byzantium should focus on their family responsibilities as wives and mothers. (In Bagenal, 7 1 17)

For the richer Byzantine families, there is even an isolated family part, which is only used by housewives, and that is gynecological diseases.

In order to better ensure that girls remain virgins before marriage, some people try to separate boys from girls. It is expected that the latter will mainly stay at home and only have direct contact with men as close family members. For wealthier families, even in the family, there is an isolated place reserved only for women. This is a private space where men are shut out, but it seems to be a restricted place where women can enter. Did not leave. In practice, it is obvious that women can and do enter the wider world. Women spend time in public places: these include shopping in the market square, going to public bathrooms, visiting relatives, going to church (they sit separately from men) and attending festivals.

Like the early Western Roman Empire, aristocratic women in Byzantine Empire were expected to get married, have children and then take care of them. Women also have to take care of their families, especially their property and servants. Girls, if educated, are also educated at home. They learn to weave and knit. They study the Bible and the life of saints. Reading is a more common skill than writing, as historian J. Herring pointed out:

According to later literature, the study of literacy rate shows that Byzantine women's reading ability (if not writing) is more common than that in medieval Europe. ( 122)

The earliest married girl is about 12 years old (boy 14 years old). Parents' participation and consent are expected, so engagement is usually considered binding. As long as widows observe proper mourning periods, remarriage is possible, but the third marriage is rare and only allowed under special circumstances, including childlessness. Divorce is difficult to achieve, but if the wife commits adultery, it can be put aside. After the reform of Constantine I (reigned in 306-337 AD), the only reason why a woman divorced her husband was that he was convicted of murder or witchcraft. Justinian I's law (r. 527-565 CE) goes one step further, completely prohibiting divorce unless both parties agree to retire and live in a monastery.

Historian a Rao summed up the role and influence of upper-class women here:

Noble women play an important role in politics and society. They are the media of alliance between aristocratic families, and because they own their own property, including dowry and hereditary property, they have considerable economic strength. Names, lineages, property and family relationships spread along female and male lineages; Noble women, like their male relatives, have a keen awareness and pride in their bloodline. (Shepard, 8 14)

career women

Women who have to earn a living work in agriculture, retail, manufacturing (especially textiles and silk) and hotels. Some known jobs for women include textile workers, bakers, cooks, innkeepers, laundry girls, midwives, doctors, money lenders and bathroom attendants. Many of these jobs and related knowledge will be passed down from generation to generation. Some of the more unusual female occupations are witches and matchmakers. Nothing can stop women from owning their own businesses, such as hotels and shops.

The example of Anisia Julianne (AD 46 1-527), a noble family, shows that a woman can have her own career and do it well, and she may become the richest woman in the empire. Anisia not only saved her wealth, but also was a famous patron of church architecture and art, especially in Constantinople, where she built and decorated Yectos in Santopoli and Mia Church in Saint You Fei with exquisite artworks. Before Justinian I rebuilt Hagia Sophia, the former was probably the largest church in the capital.

Women at the bottom are * * * and actresses, which are considered almost the same thing in Byzantine society, at least in the eyes of the upper class. Brothels existed, especially in the busy ports of the empire, such as the capital and Ephesus. Actresses are usually expected to perform erotic songs and dances in theaters or public places like the Colosseum in Constantinople-so their reputation is questionable.

Mothers' goal is to send their daughters to the Byzantine court, where they may become maids.

In Byzantine society, the mobility between classes may be small, but there is a fast route from the bottom to the top of the social ladder. This is the royal bride show of the emperor looking for the queen. Naturally, a girl of noble family, even a girl from other places, may have an advantage, because she provides a means to strengthen diplomatic relations at home and abroad, but an ordinary girl, if she is beautiful enough and smart enough, may also be chosen. Queen Irene emerged from an unknown Athenian family and was elected as the wife of Emperor Leo IV (reigned from 775 to 780), which became such a case. A less ambitious goal for mothers is to send their daughters to the palace, where they may become maids.

woman's rights

Women enjoy certain property rights. A wife cannot live without a dowry. If there is no clear will, the daughter can inherit the same family property as her brother. If the husband dies, his wife will become the legal guardian of the child. Then, women can become landowners and heads of families in their own right and pay taxes like any man who owns land.

Women cannot perform any judicial duties or any important religious functions in the church, but widows over 40 can serve as deacons or participate in services specially organized for women, such as female baptism. There are many monasteries for women, who hold all positions in these monasteries, including convents. This kind of nun not only attracts those who want to devote themselves to Christ, but also attracts women who are widowed or lack independent means of living in the outside world. They are also places of refuge and help for female victims of crime, disease and general misfortune.

Byzantine women may not enjoy exactly the same rights and privileges as men, but they are regarded as equal in one field: the field of Christian belief. Spiritual equality, many of the most respected saints and martyrs are women. The Virgin Mary holding the baby Christ is one of the most common portraits of Byzantine churches.

In the formal church hierarchy, women may not have many opportunities, but they can leave the mark of individual saints and inspire others to follow them. Byzantine ascetic monks are famous for their great patience and personal sacrifice to get close to God, and a small number of them are women. Perhaps the most famous is St. Matrona of Peggy in the 5th and 6th centuries. After hallucinating, she cut off her hair, disguised as a eunuch, and entered a male-only monastery in Constantinople, calling herself Babilas. There, she surpassed the male monks in fasting and asceticism, but after being discovered by the abbot, she was forced to move to a monastery in Amesa. She worked miracles and became more and more famous, so she could go back to Constantinople, where she established her own famous monastery, including clients of the royal family. Her ascetic life did not harm her health, and she lived to the age of 100.

Famous Byzantine women

Byzantium has a long history, involving many famous women. Perhaps the first Byzantine woman to gain lasting fame was Helena, the mother of Constantine I (born in 250 AD). She is famous for her pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where she built several churches, especially the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and donated money to people who are valuable and in need. According to legend, Helena found the real cross on her journey and brought it back to Constantinople.

Hipatia (about 370-4 15 CE) of Alexandria is a famous philosopher, scientist and mathematician, and also teaches in her famous university town. Hipatia satisfied her pagan views, and the violence ended: she was stabbed to death (or killed with another version of bricks) by a group of pro-Christian hospital nurses.

Justinian I's wife, Empress Theodora (reigned 527-548), is probably the most famous of all Byzantine Empresses today. Overcoming the shame of her early stage as an actress in Constantinople Arena, she will be a valuable support for her husband and persuade him to face and suppress the dangerous Carney uprising in 532 AD. She is also one of the most famous Byzantine works of art, and is the theme of mosaic painting of St. Vitaly Church in Ravenna. A shiny panel shows theodora shining with a huge halo, wearing many jewels and a purple robe. This is the iconic image of Byzantine women's image, which has influenced the images of queen and aristocratic women in that period since its birth.

Irene ruled the emperor in her own right, which was the first woman in Byzantine history to do so.

Irene is the only female Byzantine ruler in Byzantium who holds the male title of Basilis or "Emperor" (not Empress). Wife of Leo IV (reigned 775-780). After his death, Irene was the regent of her son Constantine VI from 780 to 790. From 797 to 802, she ruled the emperor in her own right, which was the first woman in Byzantine history to do so. Her chaotic rule, her plot to keep the throne and her notorious son's blindness earned her the darkest reputation-and this did not help the conceit like Irene, because Irene was the only Byzantine ruler who used gold coins to double her face.

Another famous Byzantine woman was Zoe, the daughter of Constantine VIII (1025- 1028 reigned). She had no son, so she became queen in 1028 and ruled until 1050. Together with her, she briefly served as the ruler of Sister Theodora in 65438+. Zoe took part in the succession of five different emperors, three of whom were her husbands: Romanus III (1028- 1034), Mikhail IV of Pavlagona (1034-10) and Dante Of nine. Accused of murdering her first husband, she was exiled to a monastery before her second husband died and reigned in 104 1. She is the subject of colorful biographies written by Byzantine historian Michael Perselos in 1 1 century.

There are several famous Byzantine women writers who have written hymns, poems and biographies of saints, but none of them is more famous than Anna Komne. She wrote about her father Alexis Komeneos (108 1-65438+). In addition to her own work, Anna also sponsored the work of other scholars, such as Hustra theseus in Nigeria.

Finally, in this brief summary of only a few famous Byzantine women, there is the poet Cassia. Living in the 9th century AD, although she was very beautiful, she was not chosen as the bride show of Emperor theophilus (reigned in 829-842 AD) and then retired to a monastery. There, she wrote religious poems and accompaniment music, some of which are still used in Orthodox churches today.