Background
Theodora Anna Doukaina was born in 1058 in Venice, Italy. The daughter of Byzantine emperor Constantine X Dukas and his second wife Eudokia Makrembolitissa.
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Theodora Theodora
Edit ProfileByzantine Emperor Doge of Venice
Career
Theodora became the wife of Domenico Selvo, Doge of Venice from 1075 until her death in 1083. Theodora brought a large Greek retinue to Venice, and rendered herself extremely unpopular because of her aristocratic bearing and haughty manner. What was then perceived as her Byzantine extravagance included the use of a fork, finger bowls, napkins, and sconce candles.
The Dogaressa died of a degenerative illness, which was seen by the Venetians as a divine judgment for her "immoderate" lifestyle. There is an account of her lavish manners written by Peter Damian, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, entitled "Of the Venetian Doge's wife, whose body, after her excessive delicacy, entirely rotted away."
Maria and Giovanni were married in Constantinople in 1005 or 1006. Both died in 1007 when a plague swept through the city-state.
