Saint Theophano Martiniake

Theophano Martinakia (Greek: Θεοφανώ; 866/67 – 10 November 897) was a Byzantine empress by marriage to Leo VI the Wise. She is venerated as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox Church. Born in c. 866/67, she was a daughter of Constantine Martinakios and Anna. Her family, the Martinakioi, were related to the Amorian dynasty, which ruled the Byzantine Empire from 820 to 867. In the decades prior to Theophano's birth, a prophecy had predicted that the family of Martinakios would take the throne. In reaction, the Amorian emperor Theophilos forced his kinsman Martinakes to become a monk and convert his personal house into a monastery. The chronicle of Symeon Metaphrastes places the marriage of Leo VI and Theophano in the sixteenth year of the reign of Basil I, that is, between September 882 and September 883. The marriage was arranged by Basil I and forced on Leo VI, and its eventual failure may have been influenced by the poor relation of father and son. Basil died on 29 August 886. Leo succeeded him to the throne and Theophano became his empress. Symeon records Leo falling in love with Zoe Zaoutzaina in the third year of his reign (c. 889). Zoe became his mistress and replaced Theophano in his affections. In the seventh year of Leo's reign (c. 893), Theophano retired to a monastery in the Blachernae suburb of Constantinople. She is considered to have been particularly devoted to the church throughout her life, but both Theophanes and Symeon are vague about whether her retirement was voluntary. Zoe replaced her in the palace and court life. There is a contradiction on her particular status from c. 893 to 897. According to Symeon, the marriage of Leo VI to Theophano was officially void, allowing Leo and Zoe to marry within the year. According to Theophanes, the original marriage was still valid and Zoe remained the imperial mistress. Theophano died in her monastery on 10 November 897.