-And Justinian is ready to run, and Theodora is the one who gets him to stay and fight. 

-Theodora, a commoner, she says to him that purple makes a fine shroud, the meaning of which is the purple is the color of the emperor and the idea being Justinian get together in dying emperor rather than cowarding like this in being overthrown.

Theodora's words inspire Justinian, and he organizes his forces to put down 34,000 rioters.

-It becomes clear that Empress Theodora is no trophy wife.

-And Justinian recognizes that he has an extremely intelligent woman of the world by his side. He'd be a fool to ingore that. 

In an unprecedented move, Justinian gives Theodora half of his power, making her the most powerful woman in the world.

-With Justinian and Theodora, you've got the rulers of the western world, and by all accounts, Theodora was running things. Theodora was smarter, more world-wise, and obviously had b* that Justinian didn't to deal with the public, with which she was familiar.

And what she did with her power was extraordianry.

-Theodora is, she's truly the hooker with a heart of gold. She recognizes the equality of woman. She outlaws force prostitution. She starts a common, which is essentially a sort of an old folks' home for retired prostitutes.