Theophano Martiniake

Saint Theophano
Empress consort of the Byzantine Empire
Theophano and Leo VI
Byzantine Empress consort
Reign	29 August 886 – 893
Died	10 November 893 a monastery, Constantinople
Burial	Church of the Holy Apostles, Constantinople
Spouse	Leo VI the Wise
Issue	Eudokia Porphyrogenita
Dynasty	Martiniakoi family Macedonian
Father	Constantine Martiniakos

Theophano Martiniake (died 10 November 893) was a Byzantine Empress by marriage to Leo VI the Wise, and an Orthodox Saint.

She was a daughter of Constantine Martiniakos. Her further ancestry is uncertain. However, Theophanes Continuatus, a continuation of the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor by writers active during the reign of Constantine VII, records the story of a possible ancestor during the reign of Theophilos (reigned 829–842).

According to said story, there was an elder Martiniakos related by marriage to Theophilos. A prophecy circulated at the time predicted that the family of Martiniakos would come to rule the Byzantine Empire. In reaction Theophilos forced his kinsman to become a monk and convert his personal house into a monastery.

Christian Settipani has suggested the Martiniakos family could share common ancestry with the Phrygian Dynasty, allowing descendants some claim to the throne. He has suggested the relation may be through one of the sisters of dynasty founder Michael II. The origins of the dynasty are poorly recorded.

The chronicle of Symeon Metaphrastes places the marriage of Leo VI and Theophano in the sixteenth year of the reign of Basil I (c. 883). Basil was the official father of Leo VI by Eudokia Ingerina. However Eudokia was the mistress of his predecessor Michael III who was suspected to be the natural father of the prince.

In any case the marriage was arranged by Basil I and forced on Leo VI. The poor relation of father and son may have played a part in the eventual failure of this marriage. Basil died on 29 August, 886. Leo succeeded him to the throne and Theophano became his empress.

She was an educated and deeply religious woman. According to the Byzantine tradition of hagiography about her, Theophano devoted most of her days to prayers, psalms and hymns to God. She was reportedly the builder or patron of the Monastery of Saint Anastasia the Protector from Potions (Hagia Anastasia Pharmacolytria) in Chalkidiki.