... she was without help, bewitched by the sorcery (of Anonymi 6008 and Ioannes 68), or rather tricked and captivated by their wiles and trickery and converted to their wishes
She tipped the scales towards whatever she wanted, her hand was ready with equal passion for both things, that is death and life; in this respect she was like the waves of the sea, which raise up a ship and plunge it down again
She had a passion for gold, not for having it or storing it away but so as to divert its stream to others, and also for Indian spices, especially those woods that retained their natural moisture, dwarf olive and white bay
Although she was past seventy, she had no wrinkle in her face, but bloomed as she had in her youthful beauty; her hands were not without tremors, she had spasms and her back had become bent
Theodora 1 knew that no being is so forgetful as a man who has been allocated power by another, and indeed that he is most ungracious to his greatest benefactor, having confirmation from her own case, his -her predecessor - and Zoe 1
Romanos 4 knew that she was a great lover, as it were bursting with passion, and to prevent her being shared among many, did not resent her relationship with one man (Michael 4); while pretending not to see he satisfied her passion
Konstantinos 9 called it a service to share in her pleasures and those of Theodora 1 and he wanted to oppose them in nothing but bring them all things pleasant
She abstained totally from women's work, never busying her hands with the spindle nor applying herself to weaving nor anything else; she even scorned royal ornaments, if not in her prime certainly in old age she abandoned any will to please
If she and Theodora 1 were inside the rooms allotted them, with one putting her seal on a stream of gold, the other cleaning out the bed of the stream, this replaced all pleasure for them
As those who are united to God through contemplation or go further and, truly inspired, cling only to the object of their perfect desire and hang upon it, so the warmest reverence for God truly united her with the first and purest light
She completely neglected bodily adornments and did not wear gold-tissued robes, nor diadems or ornaments about her neck; but she did not dress coarsely, but covered her body in light clothing
She had relinquished envy now as she was past her prime and was no longer enraged with Maria 64, nor was she quick to anger with the passion of jealousy, which had dissipated with time
τὴν δὲ ὥραν ἐλάττων τῆς ἀδελφῆς. Psellos: Chronographia II 5.11-12
Romanos 3 provoked her to hatred, both because the imperial line, in her person, was being disdained, but especially because of her desire for intercourse, which was not due to her age, but to the soft life in the palace
By another account, Romanos 3 was tolerant of her erotic notion or possession, but Pulcheria (101) and all who at that time happened to be party to Poulcheria 101's secrets were enraged
She who alone is noble in spirit and physically lovely, she who alone of all women is free, sovereign over her whole family, who most lawfully holds the lot of empire [cry of women supporting her]
Envy divided her and Theodora 1, with Zoe in a greater and Theodora in a lesser position, but nevertheless Theodora retained an outward appearance of majesty
In Michael 61's opinion, neither she nor Theodora 1 had a mind suited for rule: they did not know how to administer nor use solid arguments on politics, often mixing the trivialities of the women's quarters with serious imperial matters
The trait today praised by many, that she was glad to give to many unsparingly over long time, gave rise to praise in those who received because they did well, but was the prime cause of the utter ruin and final destruction of Roman fortune
Her difference from Theodora 1 in appearance was even greater than that in character: she was naturally fuller-figured, but she did not rise tall in stature; her eyes were large, divided by imposing brows
Her nose fell in a slight curve, but not too curved; she had golden hair, her entire body shone with whiteness; the length of her years was indicated by few signs
Anyone who looked at the fine harmony of her limbs without knowing who she was would have said that she was till young: no part of her body was wrinkled, but it was all smooth and taut, with no loose wrinkles anywhere
(Her marriage to Konstantinos 9) saw the end for her and Theodora 1 of acting for themselves and holding absolute power in government ... After ruling together for three months, she and Theodora ended their rule
The money which Basileios 2 had stored up in the palace by great sweat and toil became the plaything of Maria 64, Theodora 1 and her, given and received as presents or channelled elsewhere: soon it was all used up and wasted
While not finding much else to praise in her, ... Michael 61 continued to admire one thing, that in her love of God she surpassed all women and all males
When old she was not very steady in her thinking; she did not wander in her mind or depart from it, but she was absolutely ignorant of affairs and absolutely corrupted by an imperial lack of taste
Her reverence for God was an exception to (her lack of taste): Michael 61 cannot blame her for excess in this; this virtue in her was unsurpassed - she depended wholly on God, deriving everything from him and attributing everything to him
As she knew that Konstantinos 8 was unsparing in removing eyes, scarcely had someone committed the least crime than he was led off to this punishment; had Konstantinos 9 not refused to concede, many would have been blinded for no reason
If anyone enthusiastically recounted to her the great deeds of her family, especially those of Basileios 2, she was delighted and her spirits immediately lifted
Roared like a lioness over her companion in her den (after the fall of Michael 5)
մռնչեալ մատակ առիւծն ի վերայ ընկերին ի խշտիս իւր. Aristakes 52.2 (42)
She longed to give birth to heirs and strove to be called a mother; like a tree watered by two gardeners that ran the risk of remaining withered and leafless
Legitimate heir to the throne and sovereign, she suffered greatly and unjustly, according to the crowd protesting against her banishment, being subjected to the cruel insolence of Michael 5 (Kalaphates)
She was the tallest, most beautiful and most strong-minded of the children of Konstantinos 8
Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 192-195
The first empress
τὴν πρώτην βασιλίδα. Psellos: Chronographia 36.7
Thought that she had planned excellently and appropriated the whole power for herself and would have Michael 4 as her servant; but it turned ot rather differently
Zonaras 17.14.7
For a time Michael 4 gave the appearance of retaining his disposition towards her and of gratifying her and doing the things which were pleasing to her
Some say that Romanos 3 was not unaware of the love, but that the empress Zoe 1 was aroused and in a state of sexual madness, and that he tolerated her partiality for Michael 4, feigning ignorance lest she associate with more men
The plant (of her family) blossomed and put out so many shoots, each with royal fruit, that it was not possible to compare others with it either in beauty or grandeur (in Michael 61's view)
No small part of Konstantinos 9's lack of moderation was due to the easy-going character of her and Theodora 1, and his willingness to succumb like them to luxuries and laughter
If she had been graced with intellectual advantage, her mind did not preserve it untainted, but by demonstrating it more than necessary she revealed that it was not eagerness for distinction but lack of taste
Most generous of all women, for this reason she squandered everything, as this virtue had no limit in her: she at once counted out the money and with the other hand invoked the Lord for the one receiving it
She clung to and put all her energy into one thing - making sacrifice to God, not so much through praise, verbal offerings and penitence, but through spices and all that comes to our shores from India and Egypt
She did not share the cares of empire with Konstantinos 9, wishing to be completely free of such toils; nor did she care about the things that occupy women, the loom, distaff, wool or weaving
Michael 61 did not know if any other family was loved by God as much as that of Theodora 1 and her, and he was amazed on reflecting that their roots were fixed and planted not lawfully, but by slaughters and bloodshed
It was whispered by some that rule was more suited to Theodora 1 [than to Zoe 1] because Theodora 1 was the cause of the overthrow of the tyrant (Michael 5)
Zonaras 17.20.4
Seeing that Romanos [lived a separate life and forgot that he was married to a wife] who was still rather young, was agitated by some mean and villainous thoughts
Called the first heir (to the throne of her father Basileios 2) and their mother by the crowds gathered at the forum of Constantine to listen to the declaration of Michael 5 announcing her banishment, read by Anastasios 101
Two things irritated her more than others: the ruler (Romanos 3) did not love her and she was not able to spend unstintingly: for he closed the treasuries to her and sealed off their wealth and she lived on a fixed allowance of money
She was furious with Romanos 3 and the advisers whom he used in restricting her spending; they knew this and kept watch on her the more, especially Poulcheria 101
When Michael 4 won control of power, for a short time he as it were made a jest of imperial rule, partly surrendering to time and the unexpected outcome of things, partly pleasing her and devising amusements and diversions for her
All were favourably disposed to her as a woman and heir to the power, and she had won the hearts of all by her unsparing gift-giving (according to Ioannes 68)
Said to rank even with angels, since, I believe, from her tomb due to a certain dampness a fungus grew up, and this was called a sign dispensed from above, so that it might not be unknown that she was drawn up in company with the spritual powers
Romanos 3, who married her at his proclamation to power, seemed not to recognise that she had passed beyond the time of pregnancy, her womb already dry for childbirth (for she was fifty when betrothed to him)
Basileios 2 felt affection and strong love for her, Eudokia 101 and Theodora 1, but took no more noble care for them; while guarding the power for his brother (Konstantinos 8) he put their care in his hands
If someone on seeing her suddenly pretended to fall down as if struck by lightning (a trick often played) he was at once presented with gold chains; but if he used too many words of thanks, he was bound again with iron chains
οὐδὲν περὶ τούτων φρονήσας βασιλικώτερον ἀπελήλυθεν. Psellos: Chronographia II 5.12-13
Michael 4 feigned a disposition and look of goodwill towards her for a time, but after a short period had elapsed he changed completely and gave back wicked return for her goodwill and favour towards him
Michael 61 declines to praise or blame Michael 4's changed attitude to her: his hatred for his benefactress and unfeeling behaviour is not good, but his fear that she might engulf him in similar evils (to Romanos 3) is to be praised
In general her lifestyle was sometimes mild and lax, sometimes too harsh and tense: these characteristics alternated for no reason in a brief moment regarding the same person
Second and middle daughter (of Konstantinos 8), who was seen by Michael 61 when she had already grown old, she was most imperial in character, most brilliant in form and most magnificent and awesome in mind-set [unnamed]