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The fact, that women played in the life of the empire a role, equal to that of men, was a peculiarity of Byzantium. Women frequently ruled the empire with the capital in Constantinople. There are the three most famous empresses of Byzantium.
Anna of Byzantium
Great future was destined for this girl, the daughter of the emperor. Her brother Basil II wanted her to marry one of the Western European monarchs, but in the East a new power — Kievan Rus — appeared. Prince Vladimir, ransacking Byzantium, approached Constantinople, and the emperor, guided by the principle 'if you can't win, using force, then make your enemy your ally', offered the prince to marry his sister. Vladimir agreed and married Anna, receiving baptism. Thus, a Greek woman became Russian czarina, and built many Orthodox churches in Rus. Later she was canonized.
Theodora of Macedonia
Theodora, daughter of Emperor Constantine VIII, had sharp wits and determinate character. When her father died, she became the co-ruler of the empire together with her sister Zoe. The latter did not want to share the power, and sent Theodora to a monastery. After a mutiny by the residents of the city, the girl was brought back, and they ruled together again. When Zoe died, Theodora became the only ruler of the empire, and she performed her duties well. Namely during Theodora the Byzantine Empire saw its last period of prosperity in the 11th century.
The first empress
This woman — Irene the Isaurian — was the first empress of the Byzantine Empire, who ruled without hiding behind a weak-willed husband or lover. Being the last of the Isaurian dynasty, Irene was married to an emperor of Khazarian origin. When her husband died, Irene started ruling independently. She interfered in the religious conflicts, for churches became powerful at that time. The Orthodox world divided in two parts: iconodules and iconoclasts. Irene supported the former ones. and mercilessly wiped up those, who were against icons. Irene showed her extraordinary cruelty, when ordered to blind her own son. The blinding was done mercilessly, and some time after Constantine died of injuries. Irene ruled for some years more, and is considered a quite successful empress.
