What if everything you think you know about one of history's most scandalous women was completely wrong? In this episode, Michael Stevens pulls back the curtain on the Byzantine Empire's ultimate power couple: Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora, who history branded as the biggest whore of all time. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why Theodora's "scandalous" past might be ancient propaganda designed to destroy her legacy • How a former actress became the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire and transformed women's rights • The real story behind Justinian's 4,600-law legal code that still influences modern courts today • Why the Nika riots of 532 AD almost ended everything, and how Theodora's backbone saved an empire 👤 Perfect for: history lovers who want the real story behind the salacious headlines and anyone curious about how fake news worked 1,500 years ago. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Michael Stevens introduces history's most slandered empress [01:45] Theodora's rise from theater to throne room [03:30] The propaganda war that branded her a villain [05:15] How she revolutionized women's rights in 6th century Byzantium [07:00] The Nika riots crisis that tested everything [09:30] Justinian's legal legacy that outlasted the empire [11:15] Why we should question every "scandalous" woman in history The truth is, powerful women have always been targets. Theodora's story isn't just about Byzantine politics, it's about how history gets written by the winners and how misogyny shapes the stories we tell about remarkable women. This episode will change how you read between the lines of any historical account. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow When Rome Burns on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite historical revelation is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: Byzantine Empire, Justinian, Theodora, women in history, ancient propaganda

Stream the full show at When Rome Burns

--- Keywords: empire decline, fall of empires, historical failures

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