Theodora
c. 500 – 548 · 48 years · Constantinople · Middle East
A former actress who became Justinian's wife and co-ruler; during the Nika riots she persuaded him not to flee, saving his throne.
Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 6th century
Portrait: Meister von San Vitale in Ravenna · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Contemporaries around the world
Europe
- Clovis I — king of the Franks who converted and united Gaul, 34 years older
Middle East
- Justinian I — Byzantine emperor, 18 years older
- Khosrow I — Sasanian king of kings, 1 year younger
Asia
- Aryabhata — mathematician and astronomer, 24 years older
The world in their lifetime
- c. 500 Rise of Tiwanaku — aged 0, Americas
- c. 500 Completion of the Babylonian Talmud — aged 0, Middle East
- 529–534 Code of Justinian — aged 29, Middle East
- 536 Volcanic winter of 536 — aged 36, Europe
- 537 Hagia Sophia consecrated — aged 37, Europe
- 541–549 Plague of Justinian — aged 41, Europe