Antonina (wife of Belisarius)

Antonina (c. 495; † after 565 ) was the beautiful and clever, but extravagant wife of the Byzantine general Belisarius. She was the daughter of a charioteer and a courtesan and a friend and confidante of the Empress Theodora. You helped Belisarius to pave the way for his high position in the army and was often at his side. She was probably about ten years older than him, which means that it is likely to have been born around 495. She already had some children and entertained during her marriage with Belisarius several conditions, so even her adopted son Theodosius, to whom she was absolutely forfeited after Prokopios of Caesarea. Although Procopius Anecdota must be treated with caution, but some may have been true of what has been said.

One of their sons, Photius, who was considered a capable soldier and had served under Belisarius, reported that the affair his mother. Belisarius and Photius were then taken away Theodosius, but grabbed Theodora and rescued him; Photius himself, the Belisarius did not come to their aid, had to go to the monastery. In the year 562 also Antonina met the consequences of the charges brought against Belisarius (and probably false ) accusations; after his death in 565 donated Antonina of the assets of its closed but a monastery.