Sophia (empress)

Aelia Sophia ( Greek medium Αίλια Σοφία; * 530, † after 601), wife of Byzantine Emperor Justin II was ( 565-578 ).

The Church History of John of Ephesus, according to Sophia was a niece of Theodora I. During the reign of Justinian, she married his nephew Justin. The couple had at least two children, a son and a daughter Justus Arabia.

Since 565 Empress Sophia was the first Augusta depicted on coins with the same insignia as the imperial consort. From the beginning, they exerted a strong influence on Justin's personnel and financial policies. When the emperor in the wake of failures in the Persian war since the end of 573 showed signs of severe mental illness, Sophia took over all the business of government. She was able to negotiate with Chosroes I. a three-year truce. In order to protect their internal position of power, they had the Emperor in a " clear phase " raise the excubitorum comes and successful general Tiberius Constantinus to Caesar and co-regent on December 7, 574. Sophia is said to have pursued marriage plans, however, Tiberius refused to separate from his wife Ino Anastasia.

After the death of Justin, and the accession of Tiberius on October 5, 578 Sophia was deposed as regent, but retained the title of Augusta and an apartment in the palace. Because she did not come to terms with the loss of power, she participated in Gregory of Tours, according to a court intrigue with the aim of Tiberius by Justinian, the younger brother of the slain commander Justin to replace. The plot was uncovered, but what remained for Sophia without serious consequences.

Even during the reign of Tiberius ' successor Maurikios they resided still in their imperial quarters in Constantinople Opel. The last time Sophia is mentioned in connection with Easter celebrations in the Hagia Sophia in the year 601. It is unclear whether she survived the fall of the Maurikios and commanded the massacre of Phocas in the following year.